Shelbyville’s mayor and city council on Dec. 16 approved several land-use changes, a downtown improvement grant and state-funded airport infrastructure work while also rejecting one proposed high-density rezoning.

The council authorized the mayor to sign a $450,000 Downtown Improvement Grant (DIG) contract intended for work in the city’s downtown district; City Treasurer Parker told the council the required city match is $78,750, or 25 percent, and members approved the authorization with that match recorded in the motion. Council discussion and the roll-call vote were routine, and staff said the program is part of ongoing downtown promotional efforts.

Council members also approved a contract to allow the mayor to sign a Tennessee Department of Transportation grant for construction of Midfield Hangar utilities and stormwater management at the municipal airport. Staff said the city’s match for the TDOT grant is $12,580; the council added and approved the item after amending the agenda to include it.

On land-use matters, the council moved forward with several annexations by owner consent and multiple rezoning ordinances. The body adopted plans of services and corresponding annexation resolutions for parcels owned by Coy and Jay Landers (a 0.52-acre tract at 131 Hearts Chapel Road), for Richard M. and Kristen B. Wilhelm (roughly 10.36 acres, tax parcels listed by staff), and for about 25.33 acres owned by Susie Cartwright Johnson (State Route 437 bypass parcels). Those annexation resolutions were approved and scheduled for the required public hearings and a second reading in January.

Related zoning ordinances were also considered and largely approved on first reading: a rezoning of about 0.96 acres at 503 Riverview Drive (Burl Pine Farm LLC) from R1 (low-density residential) to R3 (medium-density residential); rezoning of the 0.52-acre Landers parcel from county A1 to C2 (general commercial); and rezoning of the Wilhelm parcels from county A1 to C2. Several other pieces of the Cartwright Johnson property were rezoned as presented, but the council voted to deny a proposed rezoning of approximately 13.07 acres to R4 (high-density residential); that motion to deny carried, and the ordinance failed on first reading.

The council also approved Resolution G requesting that the Tennessee General Assembly consider an amendment to the city’s private act charter (the item references the city’s private-act charter language) to change the membership rules for the city’s power, water and sewer board: maintain seven members but remove the city manager’s seat and add an additional city council appointee. Staff and the city attorney said the General Assembly’s office of legal services may adjust language if it moves forward; the council approved forwarding the request and members were asked to sign the document prior to leaving.

On personnel policy, the council approved an amendment (Resolution H) to clarify ordinance administration and to amend city personnel policies to allow certain nonemployee dependents to join city health, dental and vision plans. Staff reported a preliminary discussion with Blue Cross Blue Shield underwriting indicating the insurer may require a health questionnaire for newly-added nonemployee members and could reserve the right to increase rates; the council approved the change with a contingency that new enrollees complete the questionnaire and that the item be returned to council only if underwriting reports a dramatic rate increase.

The meeting also covered routine consent items (leases for airport hangars with Airworks Dynamics LLC d/b/a Mac Air and Patriot Avionics LLC, amended grant agreement with JACG Holdings LLC and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, surplus equipment) and discussed upcoming vacancies and reappointments for the planning commission and the board of zoning appeals.

Votes at a glance

- DIG contract, $450,000 with $78,750 city match: authorized by roll call.
- TDOT grant (Midfield Hangar utilities and stormwater): authorized by roll call; city match $12,580.
- Annexation (Coy & Jay Landers, 0.52 ac): plan of services and annexation resolution approved; public hearing/second reading to follow.
- Annexation (Richard M. & Kristen B. Wilhelm, ~10.36 ac): plan of services and annexation resolution approved.
- Annexation (Susie Cartwright Johnson, ~25.33 ac): plan of services and annexation resolution approved.
- Rezoning approvals on first reading: Burl Pine Farm LLC (R1→R3), Landers parcel (A1→C2), Wilhelm parcels (A1→C2); recorded by roll call.
- Rezoning denial: proposed R4 (≈13.07 ac) for Cartwright Johnson property — motion to deny carried; ordinance failed on first reading.
- Resolution G (charter amendment request re: power/water/sewer board): approved, forwarded to Tennessee General Assembly.
- Resolution H (personnel policy insurance amendments): approved with contingency pending Blue Cross underwriting results.

What happens next

Most annexation items and many ordinances require a public hearing and a second reading in January before they become final. Staff will return to the council if Blue Cross Blue Shield’s underwriting reports a dramatic increase tied to the new policy language. The council adjourned with holiday announcements and closures for City Hall and Public Works.