Shelbyville council votes to pursue Ballpark property for new police and fire headquarters

The City of Shelbyville mayor and city council voted to authorize staff to negotiate to acquire the property known in discussions as the Ballpark property and to pursue a combined police and fire headquarters on that site.

The decision came after a lengthy presentation and discussion about coverage areas, site constraints and programmatic needs for both departments. Fire department leaders and consultants said options for a new fire station are limited by required coverage distances used for Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings, and staff presented four potential parcels they had reviewed. The Ballpark property was one of two sites identified as workable for the fire department.

Why it matters: the council and staff said the city needs a long-term solution for public-safety facilities that will serve the community for decades. Council members…