CIty bids draw council discussion

Stewart Security Systems won the bid for the fire alarm system for Central Memorial Gym (formerly Harris Middle School gym) at a cost of $14,975, but councilman Lee Roy Cunningham said he had heard from a member of the school board that the current system in place might be repairable.

The council voted to accept the bid, but to also investigate if the building could be brought up to code with the current system in place.

Cunningham also questioned why the city's bid committee accepted a bid of $15,136 from Madison Swimming Pools to replace the drain in the indoor swimming pool at Shelbyville Recreation Center when a bid that was more than $5,000 lower was not considered.

City manager Ed Craig said that the bid, from Langley and Taylor Pool Corp., of Nashville, did not meet bid specifications and there was too much risk of additional expense since the company wanted to jackhammer the area under the pool during installation.

The drain must be replaced to meet new federal guidelines set down last year that closed the deep end of the pool in December. Cunningham voted "no" on the drain bid.

No bids were accepted for repairing the roof at Shelbyville Recreation Center because the bid committee recommended that the city defer replacement, advising to seal the existing low slope at the roof's point of attachment to the newer building instead.

A skid loader for the parks department will be rebid due to confusion over the item specifications, while the city accepted a bid of $11,750 for a mower for the department from Bedford Tractor.

Midway Trailer Sales, of Bell Buckle, was awarded the bid for a trailer for the parks department, with councilmen Cunningham and Al Stephenson both voting "no."

Other business

Cunningham also asked a question about a check to Palmer Foods for $8,849. Craig could not answer the question "off the top of his head," but city recorder Betty Lamb said Friday morning that the money was a refund for overpaid taxes.

Mayor Wallace Cartwright appointed Lola Hiton to the city's planning commission to fill the expiring term of Earl Pewitt and the council voted to appoint John Teague, Jr., to the Industrial Development Board.

The council also authorized a resolution for the city treasurer and attorney to turn over 2007 delinquent taxes for collection.

A motion was approved to execute a contract for this year's July Fourth fireworks display at a cost of $9,500, with the county to pay for half of the costs.

Funding was approved for a new sign plotter for the public works department and approval was given for the Chamber of Commerce's beautification committee to install a fence around the old city cemetery located behind First Baptist Church on Depot Street.

An agreement was also approved by the council to allow Enterprise Car Rental to locate their business at Shelbyville Municipal Airport.

Ordinances passed by the council were:

* A rezoning request by Stephen Feldhaus was approved on second reading to change 500 Highland Court from R-3 (medium density residential) to C-2 (highway service district, commercial).

* Joseph, Linda and Shane Roberts had their rezoning request approved on second reading for a parcel located off Morton Street to be rezoned R-3 from R-2 (low density residential).

* An ordinance was passed on second reading to amend Ordinance #863 to insert language requested by the state of Tennessee.

* Passed on first reading was a rezoning request from Anna Clanton to change 1813 Madison St. from R-1 (low density residential) to C-2.

* Another rezoning request approved on first reading was for property owned by Ginger Mashe at 810 Belmont Ave. to be changed from R-1 to C-2.