Property owner urges council to pave city-owned alley; council discusses classifying alleys

A downtown property owner told Shelby City Council on March 14 that a city‑owned alley adjacent to three of his buildings needs paving and regular maintenance, and asked the council for help getting the work done.

The speaker, identified in the record as Chad, said he and his firm, SWM Properties, have invested about $245,000 in downtown buildings at 93 West Main Street and 14 Church Street since buying them in August 2021 and asked the council to pave the alley that serves those properties. Chad said he contacted “the city coordinator, Mister Geist,” and later the street-department superintendent, Mister Shepherd, but has not received timely responses. He told the council he has called and left multiple voicemails and on two occasions purchased material to fill potholes himself.

Chad said the alley’s profile is uneven — ruts along tire tracks and a raised center — and that even plowing would not effectively address the condition. He provided photos to the council showing the surface condition.

Council discussion shifted from the single alley request to a broader policy question: how the city distinguishes alleys that function like streets from infrequently used service alleys. One councilmember suggested developing an “objective standard” that would consider usage, accessibility and whether alleys serve as primary access for homes or businesses. another councilmember noted that when alleys are paved, they thereafter receive the same maintenance as streets, including plowing.

City staff said they would review Chad’s request with the street-department superintendent and follow up. The transcript records the city coordinator and street‑department superintendent as points of contact for next steps, and councilmembers encouraged the owner to continue communication with staff.

Nut graf: The exchange combined an individual property complaint with a policy discussion about whether some alleys should be classified and treated like streets for maintenance and paving priorities.

The council mentioned that past efforts have occasionally resulted in paving multiple alleys in a ward when funds and logistics allowed, and that usage — for example, alleys that carry garbage trucks or serve as primary garage access — should be considered. Staff said the request will be reviewed and that the street department will be asked to follow up with the property owner.

Ending: The transcript records follow-up action only as a staff review and promised contact by the street department superintendent; no formal council motion or vote on the alley or a new alley-classification policy was recorded during the meeting.