There are likely few things as stressful during tax season than a dreaded and long, drawn-out audit, especially for a non profit agency.

Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce's auditors should be doubly busy this tax season, following Shelbyville City Council's approval of a 3-year tax audit procedure request Thursday night during regular business session.

While the majority of Shelbyville City Council's meeting agenda consisted of approving local annexations, ordinances and resolutions, Council made sure to give Interim City Manager Lori Saddler a final nod to address a letter to the Chamber with the City's own particulars for the audit.

Chamber Chief Executive Officer Allen Pitner had submitted a letter last month to Council, which included a proposed audit procedure for the time period of Jan. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2019. Council moved Thursday to amend Pitner's submitted audit procedure to instead include the fiscal period to be audited from July 1, 2017 through Dec. 31, 2020.

Some City Council members have said during prior meetings they believe there has been, over the last 3 years, a lack of economic development by the Chamber. The City, as a result, entered into a local agreement with Bedford County Government, which most recently hired Shane Hooper of Mississippi as local economic director.

Hooper stated recently his mission for economic development. "The vision is to build our economic development organization and infrastructure to be competitive in our region and among our peer counties. Building a solid organization will allow us to compete for more and better jobs for the citizens of Shelbyville and Bedford County. This can be achieved by building strong relationships and shared visions with our elected officials, partners, and stakeholders locally, statewide, and nationally. Economic development is the ultimate team sport."

As approved by the state legislature last year, Council will now regain use its hotel-motel tax proceeds to help support those joint economic development plans. The state-approved charter language includes that those funds will still be earmarked for economic development.

Though Council has essentially now stripped the Chamber Economic Development and Tourism board of about $250,000 in annual privilege tax revenue, Council members have said it will continue to work with the Chamber on economic development and tourism projects in the future.

***Other City business

Public hearings were also held Thursday, prior to the regular council business meeting, for community input on several ordinances and a resolution, including the adoption of a plan of services for an area proposed for annexation-a piece of property located on the north side of Highway 437 Bypass, annexed by owner consent, and incorporated within City boundaries.

Annexation of that particular parcel of property, owned by local businesswoman Suzy Cartwright Johnson, and its accompanying resolution, was later approved in regular Council session on second and final reading.

An additional ordinance approved on second and final reading was for an amendment of the City of Shelbyville's sewer use or building and sewer connections.

The City also approved the rezoning of 5.01 acres, owned by Hartsford Development, LLC, located northeast of the TN-437 intersection and Fairfield Pike from agricultural-forestry (A-1) to Planned Unit Development (PUD.)

Several new ordinances on first reading had initially gained approval from the City Planning Commission. One of those receiving an unfavorable recommendation was for the rezoning of 1.06 acres, owned by Russell Flade, and located at 328 Bethany Lane, from general business district (C-2) to high density residential (R-4.) Council did not approve this ordinance Thursday night,

Also approved Thursday night was a resolution authorizing the issuance of approximately $17.4 million in aggregate principal amount of federally tax-exempt and or federally taxable general obligation refunding bonds-those which the City will make provision for issuance, sale and payment and application on behalf of Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage.

Due to COVID-19 and the City continuing to operate under executive orders from Gov. Bill Lee, Council continues to hold its meetings in a Shelbyville Recreation Center conference room for social distancing purposes. Except for local television, no other digital access of City meetings is available at this time, such as Zoom or Facebook.