By DAVID MELSON - dmelson@t-g.com
An annexation request for a large area between Midland Road and Highway 231 just north of Shelbyville came to a screeching halt Thursday night.
Developers had asked Shelbyville City Council to forward their request on to the Planning Commission for further study.
No council member made the motion to pass on the request. Mayor Wallace Cartwright declared the motion failed after a period of silence.
The developers had proposed operating their own private water and sewer system, which the council was told is done in cities as near as Murfreesboro. Some council members and representatives appeared almost offended at the request during a study session two weeks ago, pointing out that Shelbyville Power, Water, and Sewerage System has the capability to serve the area – and that, if built, funds otherwise available to the city would be lost.
Waleed Albakry, Director of Planning and Community Development, had said at the study session the developer’s request was “premature.”
TIF statement
The Council unanimously passed a resolution acknowledging “the Mayor and City Council’s continuing effort to make the City of Shelbyville a desirable location for economic development and authorizing city staff to develop a TIF program for their consideration.
That resolution was placed on the agenda following a specially-called recent meeting in which Shane Hooper, President/CEO of Shelbyville/Bedford Partnership, the city-county economic development agency, spoke to the council about the need for a TIF program.
“Tax Increment Financing – or TIF – projects give cities and counties tools to retain, recruit, and grow business and industry. Tax Increment Financing is a method utilized by local governments to pay for community improvements with future tax revenues,” the State Board of Equalization’s website explains.
Further discussion of TIF programs by the council is scheduled in December.
Rezonings
Rezoning of 53 acres west of Green Lane near Northside Park Drive, owned by Black Diamond Construction, from R-3 (medium density residential) to R-4 (high density residential) was approved 6-0 on second and final reading following a public hearing in which no one spoke.
Several new rezoning requests were passed 6-0 by the council.
Approximately 60 acres on the east side of Old Nashville Dirt Road south of Living Stones Church were granted approval on first reading for rezoning from R-2 (low density residential) to R-3. The land is owned by Curl Properties LLC.
An estimated 20 to 26 housing units are planned for the development, Albakry said, in response to a question by council member Marilyn Ewing. The developer is undecided on whether to construct single-family homes or duplexes but will submit an application in the next week or two, Albakry said.
Rezoning requests from R-1 (low density residential) to R-3 for 5.05 acres on Fowler Road, owned by James Bret Rollins, and 4.80 acres on Dover Street, owned by Curl Properties LLC, were approved.
Public safety
Authorization was approved for the city to apply for two state law enforcement grants, one for $245,000 to hire and equip two new police officers for their first year, with the city picking up pay from that point. The city is also applying for a competitive grant, with the potential of up to $2 million, for primarily high-tech types of equipment.
A license plate reader was mentioned; Police Chief Jan Phillips said it would not be used to catch speeders. Phillips and Deputy Chief Brian Crews have said readers are helpful in finding criminal suspects, such as a man and woman found in Mississippi last year who were being sought in connection with a Shelbyville murder.
The city was also given permission to apply for a yearly traffic signal modernization grant.
The grant, if received, will be used to replace light at the intersections of East Depot Street-Deery Street-Belmont Avenue and East Depot Street-North and South Thompson Streets, according to discussion at previous meetings.
Purchases
Purchase authorizations included:
•The city-paid portion of $6,909.20 in a Tennessee Department of Transportation grant for $74.419.21 total to improve rail crossings.
•A 2023 Ford F-350 truck with dump body for $68,140 through a statewide contract with Ford of Murfreesboro. A snowplow and salt spreader attachment for the truck are also being purchased for $17,732. The purchase is within budget due to money intended for a storm sewer camera being redirected. The Street Department will use the truck.
•A 2023 Ford F-150 pickup for $48,011 through the state contract. Shelbyville Fire Department will use the truck as a first responder vehicle. The City had ordered a 2022 model; Ford Motor Co. cancelled unfilled 2022 orders due to difficulty obtaining some parts due to supply shortages.
•Slightly under $26,000 of roofing repairs to Lewis Pavilion at H.V. Griffin Park. The low bid from Adams Roofing was almost $11,000 under budget.
•Eight assembled water fitness bikes for Shelbyville Recreation Center at a total of $16,320 to Fitworx of Franklin.
•A transfer trailer for the Solid Waste Department at $167.900 to the lowest bidder, a Pennsylvania firm.