A resolution asking for a change in the city's charter passed. The charter change would alter the voting requirement to "a majority of those present and voting" from "a majority of those present" in regards to electing members of the Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewer Board.

The change in the city's charter would require the approval of the state legislature, and asks State Sen. Jim Tracy and Rep. Curt Cobb to request the legislature to adopt a private act clarifying the language. However, the change cannot take place until next year.

No pet sales

The council approved on final reading an ordinance pertaining to the sale of pets. Ordinance number 821 makes it illegal to sell or give away animals in public places in the city limits, unless the person in question is a dealer.

The topic arose due to a continuing debate about animal control in the city. Shelbyville's animal control officer Randy McCullough told the council at an earlier date that one of the sources of the dilemma surrounding stray dogs is the fact that the animals are given away in retail parking lots, only to be later abandoned by the new owners.

The ordinance allows local animal control and the Humane Association to hold adoptions and would not prevent people from selling or giving away pets from their own residence.

New cop shop

The council approved the location of Shelbyville's new mini-precinct to be located in Purdy Court and to also authorize the closing of Jessica Lane for safety reasons.

The Shelbyville Housing Authority has offered use of a three-bedroom unit at 900 Purdy Court that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as a place where officers can fill out reports, and to relieve overcrowding at the main police station on Lane Parkway, city manager Ed Craig said.

A police substation had been in the housing complex in years past, Craig said, and Purdy Court has "a high degree of crime going on in that area."

Wrecker changes

A change was made to the city's wrecker regulations concerning the towing of two vehicles simultaneously. The new rule says a wrecker cannot accept a call for towing two vehicles if it can't do so at the same time and should inform the dispatcher if the tow firm is unable to do so.

However, under exceptional circumstances, if a traffic safety hazard exists and a second wrecker can not respond, the officer at the scene may authorize a single wrecker to tow both vehicles.

Also addressed

In other business, the council:

* Approved the selection of Murfreesboro-based firm Griggs & Maloney Inc. to serve as city engineer.

* Voted to hire the firm Solutia to handle fine collections for municipal court.

* Voted to contribute $5,000 to the Railroad Authority to help play for the removal of tracks from Highway 82 bypass.

* Passed on third and final reading an ordinance de-annexing the property of Don and Alberta Tanner at 1976 Fairfield Pike.

* Approved on second reading a request to rezone property at 112 Wheeler Street from R-2 (low density residential) to R-4 (high density residential.)

* Approved a rezoning request on first reading for Joe M. Lambert and Bobby G. Sanders for a parcel on East Cedar Street, from C-3 (Neighborhood Service District) to R-4 (High Density Residential).

* Approved on first reading an amendment to a zoning ordinance concerning non-conforming parking lots.

* Passed a resolution to authorize appropriations totaling $106,829 for non-profit agencies for the 2008-09 fiscal budget year.

* Made five appointments to the Shelbyville Beer Board -- Rick Overcast, Ron Miller, Jerry Grohowski, Dee McCullough and Bartolo Pina.

Mayoral appointments

Mayor Wallace Cartwright appointed four members to the Argie Cooper Library Board -- Marilyn Ewing, Eleanor Hall, Nina Gay Segroves and Randy Vernon.

Also selected by the mayor, with council confirmation, were three appointments to the Airport Authority -- Allen Pitner, David Barnes and David Hopkins.