City council doesn't act on mayor's request

The speed limit on U.S. 231 North will remain the same.

Shelbyville's city council took no action on the idea Thursday after Mayor Wallace Cartwright brought up the topic of lowering the speed allowed to 55 mph last week.

Cartwright said he would like to see the speed lowered due to the location of Heritage Medical Center and other establishments on the state highway.

But when the matter was raised Thursday, no council member made any motion, so the concept died for the lack of a second.

The stretch of highway that would have been impacted extends approximately 2.5 miles north of Shelbyville from McDale Lane. The speed limit at Walmart is set at 45 mph, before increasing to 55, then 65 mph shortly thereafter.

The city limits extend along the right of way of U.S. 231 to a point some 400 feet north of Frank Martin Road.

Removed

Following a closed door attorney/client meeting with the council, an ordinance to re-enact the creation of a special industrial zone was removed from the agenda without comment.

The council was to hold third and final reading to amend the city zoning ordinance, adding a new section entitled "Building Requirements in Commercial or Industrial Zones to Article IV, Supplementary Provisions applying to Specific Districts," which would have established an I-3 (Industrial 3) zoning classification.

The I-3 zone was at the center of a lawsuit against the city filed by Wright Paving, who claimed Shelbyville did not give adequate notice of a change in zoning laws they say impacted their property.

The Tennessee Court of Appeals at Nashville said last week that the city "failed to provide reasonable notice to landowners that their property may be affected" because the original public notice about the I-3 zoning was not specific enough.

The appeals court ruling declared the old zoning ordinance invalid.

Ads to be placed

The council also approved taking applications for a new planning and codes director, to replace Kip Green, who resigned in September.

But the council also voted to advertise for a new city manager as well.

Former city manager Ed Craig was supposed to take over Green's duties following his departure, however, the city manager's forced resignation last month left the planning and codes department without direction.

The day-to-day functions of the department are being overseen by public works director Mark Clanton, since he is familiar with the city's subdivision regulations.

Council member Jo Ann Holland asked that the item be put on the agenda Thursday, saying it could be months before a new manger is found.

Councilman Al Stephenson made a motion that city personnel matters, such as hiring and firing, be made the responsibility of city recorder Betty Lamb, and that motion was approved.

Other items

Also approved was the final reading of an ordinance to allow the sale of fireworks by adding a chapter to the Shelbyville Municipal Code entitled "Fireworks."

An ordinance had been passed by the council in 1953 that prohibited both the sale and use of fireworks. The city recorder could find no evidence of that document ever being changed.

Issues relating to fireworks are not in the city's code and haven't been since 1976, so a new ordinance was needed.

The measure would also would allow fireworks to be used in the city on July 1 through July 3 from 10 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. and until 11:30 p.m. on July 4. Fireworks would also be permitted on New Year's Eve from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. Jan.1.

Also passed was a motion to authorize Shelbyville Power System to apply for an energy grant. A $100,000 grant is available for the power system from $9.3 million in federal stimulus funds through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.

Cartwright said the grant is 100 percent and the city would not have to match it.

Utility officials are looking at installing LED (Light Emitting Diodes) in city parks and replace the lights currently on the walking trail, which Cartwright says would mean a huge savings in energy.

The final budget amendments of the 2008-2009 budget were passed on third and final reading, as well as the renewal of the lease agreement for the Senior Citizens building on J.G. Helton Drive for 2010.

Bids for various types of stone for city projects will be rebid since only one firm, Vulcan Materials, submitted a proposal.

The council voted to renew Wright Paving's contract for the paving, milling and striping of Shelbyville's streets, which only contained a four percent increase from last year's contract.

Mayor Cartwright also appointed Jimmy Jones to the city's planning commission and placed councilman Thomas Landers on the Skills Development Board.