Shelby council approves paving, safe-routes grant application, gas-aggregation authority and other measures

Shelby City Council on an evening meeting approved a package of resolutions and one ordinance covering paving, school-safety grant applications, natural-gas aggregation authority and a biosolids disposal contract while postponing one land-use-related vote for additional information.

The council voted to approve Resolution No. 4 (2025), authorizing plans and specifications and directing the mayor, as director of public service, to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the February 2025 paving project; and Resolution No. 5 (2025), authorizing the mayor to apply for Safe Routes to School infrastructure funding. Both resolutions passed on roll call votes. Councilmembers recorded “yea” votes during roll calls for those matters and the chair declared the measures passed.

The council also passed Resolution No. 6 (2025), authorizing the mayor to enter into a governmental aggregation program agreement with a natural gas supplier and declaring an emergency to allow staff flexibility to accept a market-priced offer quickly. The council heard a presentation from Jay Sell of Aspen Energy explaining how the city's aggregation program has run for a decade and why the measure would allow staff to move rapidly if a favorable market offer appears. Sell said, "This is the tenth year now," describing the firm's ongoing role helping the city find suppliers.

Resolution No. 7 (2025) approved a short-term contract for handling hazardous biosolids sludge. The public works presentation explained the city's prior contract had included leachate handling and that the new three-year arrangement is for hauling sludge to a disposal site; the rate cited in discussion rose from about $42 per ton previously to $50 per ton under the new contract and the contractor may adjust rates annually by a price index.

On legislative business, Ordinance No. 4 (2025) vacating an alley that runs parallel to East Main Street passed on its third reading. Council moved and seconded the ordinance as recorded in the minutes and approved it by roll call.

Council postponed final action earlier in the evening on an item where staff had been asked to supply additional parking information; a motion to postpone until later in the meeting passed and the item was taken up after further materials were provided. One amendment to the exterior property maintenance code (Ordinance No. 6, 2025) was on second reading and remained pending action.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance No. 4 (2025) (alley vacation) — passed (third reading). Motion and second recorded; roll call yielded a majority of "yea" votes. - Resolution No. 4 (2025) (02/2025 paving project) — passed (roll call). - Resolution No. 5 (2025) (Safe Routes to School infrastructure application) — passed (roll call). - Resolution No. 6 (2025) (natural gas aggregation authority; emergency) — passed (roll call). - Resolution No. 7 (2025) (hazardous biosolids/sludge contract) — passed (roll call). - Ordinance No. 6 (2025) (amend exterior property maintenance) — second reading; not passed this meeting (action pending additional readings).

Council adjourned after miscellaneous business.