Shelbyville council votes 4-2 not to rejoin Bedford-Shelbyville partnership

Shelbyville City Council voted 4-2 at an April meeting to decline rejoining the Bedford-Shelbyville partnership, rejecting a motion to return the city to the regional economic development partnership.

The vote followed more than an hour of discussion about whether the council should delay a decision so partnership representatives could make a public presentation. Council member Turnbow urged a face-to-face meeting to "dispel any rumors" and to let people who had been in previous meetings describe the partnership’s accomplishments. "My intent was that we have a face to face meeting to discuss the facts about the accomplishments of the partnership, dispel any rumors that are out there," Turnbow said during the debate.

Mayor (unnamed) told the council he had met privately with the partnership’s chairman, Jody Lambert, and a representative named Kelly North and received a written packet about the group’s past work and current offer to the city. "I have been asked personally as mayor to meet with the chairman, Mr. Jody Lambert, and also Kelly North was in that meeting," the mayor said, describing the materials the partnership provided.

Council members debated procedure, whether the item had been added with adequate notice, and whether the public should hear a presentation before a vote. Some council members said they had asked for a public presentation in prior weeks; others said they had been offered only a written binder. After discussion the council held a roll-call vote on a motion to not rejoin the partnership. City recorder Lisa Smith read the roll call: Council member Bellhouse voted No; Council member Ewing voted Yes; Council member Noel voted No; Council member Christie voted Yes; Council member Blevins voted Yes; Council member Turnbaugh voted Yes. The motion passed 4–2 to not rejoin the partnership.

The item had been added to the agenda earlier in the meeting after a council member asked for a vote that night; opponents of an immediate vote argued for a public meeting and more time to review materials. The council’s action was limited to the question on rejoining the partnership; no follow-up direction to staff or the partnership was recorded during the roll call that concluded the discussion.

The partnership and its materials were discussed but no formal presentation from partnership representatives was made at the meeting. Council members who requested a public presentation and members who had met with partnership representatives framed their remarks as reasons to either delay or proceed with a vote. The council did not adopt any new directives to staff about further outreach or negotiation with the partnership in the minutes of this meeting.

The vote means Shelbyville will not re-enter the Bedford-Shelbyville partnership at this time. The council can revisit the matter in a future meeting if members place it on a future agenda or if partnership representatives request a public presentation to the council.