Two different groups are interested in two city-owned properties adjacent to the Historic Shelbyville Square.

Shelbyville City Council members heard two detailed presentations Thursday night from potential purchasers of the properties.

Building One is located at 100 South Spring Street and is known as the Kyle Building. Building Two is located at 104 South Spring Street and is known as the Trolinger Building, which actually includes two buildings.

Glass Hollow Table & Tavern, which will be located in the old Knox Pitt Hardware Store building was represented by owners Jeb House and Chavigny Beasley.

Mike Davis, Craig and Mindy Campbell, Glenn Dowdle, and Allen Buchanan made their presentation for the Grindstone Cowboy. Davis is the agent for Bedco Investment Limited Partnership. The Campbells own the Grindstone Cowboy in Eagleville, Tennessee. Dowdle and Buchanan represented Dowdle Construction from Nashville.

Both groups have solid financial backing.

Beasley and House plan to use the Kyle Building as the future home of Glass Hollow Distilling Company, a boutique distiller of “neutral spirits,” such as gin or vodka.

Their plans for the Trolinger Building include a dual-use retail space on the first level. House and his wife, Ashley, own Enchanted Bridal & Boutique. According to the presentation materials, the Houses are committed to relocating their business to the Trolinger Building with plans to expand into men’s wear along with additional retail (mercantile) lines similar to the U.G. White Mercantile in Athens, Alabama.

The second level would be renovated to include seven to eight individual office spaces to be leased to small businesses and used as art studios. The small connecting building would house an ice cream parlor. House is already in talks with Nash Creamery in Unionville.

“We believe that the purchase of these properties will be a great investment for both us and the City of Shelbyville,” House said. “We are committed to making this project a success and to creating a thriving downtown area that will benefit the community for years to come.”

Citing the need for renovations, Glass Hollow is offering $330,000 for the properties.

Grindstone Cowboy plans

The proposal for Grindstone Cowboy also includes plans for a mixed-use facility. The Grindstone Cowboy in Eagleville has been open since April 2022 and has been very successful.

According to the proposal, “the Grindstone Cowboy project tells a unique story and offers a mix-use facility that will create excitement and engage the community at all levels and maintain the historic integrity of three buildings.”

The plans for the Kyle Building:

*First floor: Coffee shop, cafe’, bar, and a small music venue. Curb pick-up will also be available.

*Second floor: Event space, larger music venue, speakeasy/restaurant.

*Rooftop: Bar and overlook

Additional tenants for the Trolinger Buildings:

*Lower level: retail

*Upper level: Two residential lofts

*Small building: bakery and ice cream shop, walk-up window, and outdoor seating.

Bedco is offering $125,000 for the properties.

A called meeting is planned to consider the offers.

Council denies Partnership, Habitat funds

The Shelbyville City Council appeared to not be in a generous mood Thursday night during their regular meeting.

Council members voted to no longer provide $100,000 to the Shelbyville-Bedford County Partnership or $10,000 to Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity.

The $100,000 request by the Shelbyville-Bedford County Partnership failed by a 4-2 vote. Council member Henry Feldhaus made the motion to approve the request. Council member Stephanie Isaacs seconded it. They were the only two votes for the expenditure with council members Marilyn Ewing, Gary Haile, William Christie, and Bobby Turnbow casting votes against the request.

By a vote of 4-3, the council denied the $10,000 in funds requested by Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity. The motion to approve the request was made by Ewing and seconded by Haile. Also voting yes was Isaacs. Feldhaus, Christie and Turnbow voted no. Mayor Randy Carroll broke the tie with a no vote.

In other business:

*David Coffey and Thomas Johnson were approved for two spots on the Shelbyville Power Board. Seven candidates were interviewed by city officials prior to the start of the regular meeting. Coffey is a new member. Johnson retains his seat for a second term. Power Board members serve three-year terms.

*The council unanimously voted to adopt Juneteenth as a City of Shelbyville holiday for employees and to update the City of Shelbyville Personnel Policy to reflect the adoption.

*A letter will be sent to Bedford County officials concerning the Local Option Sales Tax. City Manager Scott Collins was also authorized to spend a maximum of $50,000 to engage outside counsel concerning the Local Option Sales Tax.

*The mayor and city manager were authorized to sign an engagement letter with Winnette Associations, PLLC for audit services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The amount is not to exceed $35,000. An additional fee of $5,000 will be added if a single audit is required related to federal grants.

*A request to remove three metal buildings from park property was approved.

*An application with the State of Tennessee’s Department of Agriculture was approved for an Animal-Friendly Spay/Neuter Grant was approved unanimously.

*A motion to approve issuing purchase orders for the fiscal year 2024 to purchase vehicles through a statewide contract from Lonnie Cobb Ford prior to July 1, 2023, if they become available was unanimously approved.  Lonnie Cobb Ford is located in Henderson, Tennessee.

*Carroll was authorized to sign a letter requesting a one-year extension on the Corporate Hangar Development Grant.

*Southern Monument Corporation, doing business as Leoma Monument, Leoma, Tennessee, the only bidder on the Columbaria project for Willow Mount Cemetery was unanimously approved for the project at a cost of $82,410. The budgeted amount is $100,000 which will also pay for concrete work.

*Payment of attendance and expenditure fees for an official delegation for the 2023 Annual Conference of the Tennessee Municipal League was approved unanimously.

*A motion to establish a City YouTube Channel and the purchase of necessary equipment at a maximum of $30,000 from the Cable/TV Fund received unanimous approval.

*Garver, from Franklin, Tennessee, will serve as the provider of professional airport services for the Shelbyville Municipal Airport for the next five years.

*Two public hearings were held with no comments from the audience. Following the closing of the public hearings two ordinances were unanimously approved on second reading.

Property owned by Greg Curl, .55 acres, will be rezoned from medium-density residential to low-density residential.

An ordinance regulating the use of engine compression braking devices will also take effect.