BY MARK MCGEE
This is the first of a two-part series on Shelbyville Mayor Randy Carroll’s assessment of 2024 and looking ahead to 2025.
Rampant residential development. Industrial development concerns. A revitalized city square. New restaurants and coffee stores. Road paving and sidewalk additions.
These are just some of the areas where City of Shelbyville officials have been working in 2024.
One of the improvements approved in 2024 which will be completed in 2025 is the flood pump project. It is a big ticket item priced at $1,830,000 with an additional $1,225,500 for installation for a total of $3,055,500.
“We have ordered the three pumps,” Carroll said. “It is part of the general fund. They will have to do some changes in how the pumps connect. The electrical will have to be done. If we had a big rain we could have problems if this isn’t fixed.”
Carroll was very pleased with many of the areas the council was able to finance. One was the almost doubling of the allotment for the improvement of streets in Shelbyville from $600,000 last year to $1.1 million.
“Public works was a big issue paving-wise,” Carroll said. “We paved Eagle Boulevard and North Main Street this year as well as Fairfield Pike as part of the preparation for the opening of Cartwright Elementary School.
“One of the things we wanted to do was put more money into streets,” Carroll said. “We had $500,000 in the budget the first year I was in office. It just doesn’t go very far when you are talking about pavement. We had $1.1 million for paving in 2024.”
The council also approved the purchase of a hot mix machine at the request of Public Works Director Buck Vallad.
“We went with hot mix instead of cold mix to fix the potholes,” Carroll said. “Buck says hot mix repairs will last a whole lot longer”
City Hall also added a new staff member in 2024. Beverly Reynolds works with Carroll, City Recorder Lisa Smith and City Manager Scott Collins.
“She is an assistant to those positions with Scott and Lisa and she helps me if I need to get a letter out to people or whatever is needed,” Carroll said. “She has been working with us for about four months.”
Willow Mount addition
Willow Mount Cemetery constructed and opened a Columbarium for those wanting a final resting place urns holding the ashes of cremated family members.
“This is for people with loved ones who do not want to be buried in the ground,” Carroll said. “They wanted to be cremated. We needed a place to put cremation urns where people could come and visit their loved ones.
“I think the Columbarium is really a beautiful place. It has really worked out well.”
Carroll credits City Council member and Vice-Mayor William Christie for pushing the project to completion.
“William had mentioned it two or three years ago and we finally got it on the table this year,” Carroll said. “All of our departments pulled together when we decided to do that. The public works and the parks and recreation department worked together to make it the nicest place it can be with vegetation.”
Ben Chapman, sexton at Willow Mount, is working on repairing tombstones in the cemetery as well as generally improving the upkeep and appearance.
“Ben does a good job,” Carroll said. “He is proud of his work and I like that when someone takes pride in their work.”
Safety assistance
The Shelbyville Police Department has new employees which were hired in 2024. The City Council approved the purchase of four additional police vehicles.
“The police department has 46 vehicles purchased in the last seven years to service the people of Shelbyville,” Carroll said. “We have a good department.”
Deputy police chief Brian Crews retired in 2024 to accept a position in the legal department of Cooper Steel. Pat Mathis was promoted to be the deputy chief position replacing Crews.
Carroll praised both Police Chief Jan Phillips and Fire Chief Matt Doak for their leadership.
An improved square
Businesses on and around the Shelbyville square benefited from a”façade” grant. Merchants could apply for $7,500 to be used to improve the overall appearance of their storefronts.
“We are not just concentrating on the square, but we have done a lot of work with the merchants,” Carroll said. “Scott, Lisa and Kelly North from the Shelbyville-Bedford Partnership and Beth Davis worked with us.
“The $7,500 grants had to be matched by the merchants. I think I signed 21 letters from merchants who decided to take advantage of the grant. And you can just see the difference.
New lighting was put in before Carroll became mayor. Also the traffic lights on the square were removed.
“The square has really stepped up,” Carroll said. “We have the new lights that the owner of the Capri Theater installed. We are so proud of that.”
As a result of the project the City of Shelbyville was awarded the Downtown Revitalization Award by the Tennessee Municipal League.
“That was one big thing on my calendar was not just the City to be recognized, but the merchants as well,” Carroll said. “Hopefully, in the future through the South Central Development District, which is where the grant originated, we will be doing other things and we are working on that right now.”
Glass Hollow Table and Tavern is the newest addition to the square. The Grindstone Cowboy is also scheduled to open this year.
“Glass Hollow is a beautiful place,” Carroll said. “They really worked hard on that building. On the square you have a problem parking now especially on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.”
Part two will include a discussion of major projects and challenges ahead for the City.
