Shelby council directs attorney to invite developer after residents object to proposed apartment at industrial site

The Shelby City Council on Nov. 21 directed City Attorney Clint Fichter to contact developer Damien Schultz and invite him to an information meeting about proposed plans for the city’s industrial site, after residents raised objections during public comment and the council met in closed session under Iowa law.

During the public forum, resident Angie Grote told the council she does not support the city working with a developer on a proposal to put an apartment building on the city industrial site and said there should have been more public hearings on the city’s public-improvement projects. Ken Carter voiced similar concerns. Council members told attendees the city plans to hold an information meeting about the industrial-site project.

Councilmember Pat Honeywell moved and Karen Schlueter seconded a motion to take a short recess and go into closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(j) to discuss the sale of the Industrial Park/Purple Martin Development and any appropriate action related to that discussion; the motion carried on a roll‑call vote. The minutes record the regular session was closed at 8:40 p.m.; the minutes also record the council entered closed session at 8:45 p.m. and reconvened at 9:30 p.m.

After reconvening, on motion by Honeywell and second by Schlueter the council instructed Attorney Fichter to reach out to Damien Schultz to invite him to an information meeting to discuss plans for the Industrial Park and to determine a date. The motion passed on roll call with Jackie Hursey, Pat Honeywell, Karen Schlueter and Chris Evans voting yes; Rick Kiesel was recorded absent.

The council did not set a date for the information meeting during the Nov. 21 session; the attorney’s outreach is the next scheduled step recorded in the minutes.