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Shelbyville council debates charter changes on voter eligibility, utility-board appointments; asks staff to clarify 'ratepayer'
Summary
At a Nov. 19 special study session, Shelbyville council members debated whether nonresident property owners should retain municipal voting rights, how to define 'ratepayer' for utility-board appointments, and ambiguous candidate-background language in the charter. The council left key language unchanged for now and directed staff to consult the utility authority and election office.
Shelbyville — The Shelbyville City Council met in a special study session on Tuesday to review proposed amendments to the city charter, with discussion centered on voter qualifications, eligibility for utility-board membership and the definition of "ratepayer," and ambiguous language about candidate background checks.
Mayor (Speaker 7) opened the meeting and read aloud the charter provisions under review, including Article 2, Section 3 (voter qualifications) and Article 17, Section 3 (eligibility to serve as a citizen member of power, water and sewer boards). The council focused on a clause that allows persons who own taxable property outside the city limits but pay taxes to vote in municipal elections.
Legal counsel (Speaker 1) told the council that, according to state law cited in the meeting, the city has the authority to permit or prohibit nonresident property owners from voting. "State law provides that you all can prohibit or allow," Speaker 1 said during the discussion of voter qualifications. Council members were split: some…
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