Friday, February 16, 2024
County BZA Approves Business Petition, Denies Another Due to Safety Concerns
BELOW: A Google Street View image shows petitioner Barry Grant’s existing outdoor sales business in Van Wert, Ohio. Grant received approval to construct a similar business along U.S. 52 near the Rush County line at this week’s Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. | Google Street View, July 2023, Shelby County Staff Planning document
The Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday heard two petitions regarding properties in Hanover Township, approving one regarding a new business in Morristown and denying the other, to allow private recreational use, namely shooting and hunting, on property at 7900 N 250 E, Shelbyville.
The board unanimously approved, with eight stipulations, a request to allow for a seasonal outdoor living, garden and farm supply retail store at 9075 N 800 E, Morristown, off U.S. 52 near the Rush County line.
Barry Grant, the land owner, intends to install a portable office building, pole storage building, septic system, driveway and a minimum seven-space parking area for the business, which he expects will be open spring and summer, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week and 9 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, attracting 15 customers a day. The approval includes installation of an unlit commercial ground sign.
“This was a junkyard and now it’s a dumpsite,” Grant, who owns a similar operation in Ohio, said.
He will sell furniture and playsets, as well as sheds on the site. “They’re good quality, 50-year warranty buildings,” Grant said. “They’re not something slapped together.”
Some area property owners asked clarifying questions, with one noting a similar business already exists nearby. Grant said his business would be well-kept year-round, adding that he would “bring the expectations back up” regarding such businesses. There will be no chemical sales or manufacturing on site, Grant said, in response to questions.
One of the stipulations included having a 14-foot wide driveway with an asphalt or concrete drive apron at least 25 feet long, measured from the center of CR 800 E. The county Technical Review Committee will review and must approve the site plan.
In other action, the BZA unanimously denied Brendan Riggs’ request to allow private recreational use as the primary use of 7900 N 250 E, Shelbyville, in the vicinity of Big Blue River, south of Freeport. Riggs hoped to use the property for private hunting and shooting and planned to install a safety backstop for firearm discharge along the east property line.
“Even though we're going to be farming it and-or renting it as agriculture, if I'm using it for any personal use, then we need to get this variance,” Riggs said.
Several nearby property owners expressed concerns about noise and safety. One noted potential concerns with kayakers and those fishing at the river. BZA member Kevin Carson said rounds could escape the property due to its narrow width.
Board member Terry Knudson also shared concerns after scouting the property. “It seemed like there was a lot of population: houses, there are a lot of animals. It seems just from a common sense standpoint, it doesn't seem like it's a good idea to be shooting in that area,” he said.
BZA members in attendance were Carson, Knudson and Dave Klene.
NOTEBOOK:
The City of Shelbyville’s annual Heavy Trash Clean-up Week is set for April 15-19. Heavy trash will be collected on residents’ regular trash day. Everything must be bagged, contained and placed neatly curbside or in the alley where pick-up regularly occurs. Items must be out by 7 a.m. There will be no recycling or chipper pile pick-up that week. Items not picked up are: TVs, computers, batteries, concrete, paint cans, construction material, tires and oil. Appliances must be drained of freon and tagged by a professional. Items should be separated into trash, lumber and metal.
NATIONAL NEWS: The national average payout from the tooth fairy per lost tooth is up, from $5.36 per tooth in 2022 up to $6.23 per tooth last year, according to an annual poll sponsored by Delta Dental. (Wall Street Journal/Numlock)
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This Day in Shelby County History
2014: The Shelby Eastern School Board voted to implement a teacher retirement program, giving teachers whose age plus years of teaching experience equaled or was more than 85 an incentive of $10,000 to retire. Twelve teachers would qualify, school officials said.
2004: Dianne and Paul Forville, who owned the Subway franchise shop in Rivergate, the former Walmart complex, announced plans to move to a new site in Junction Plaza. The decision was made for better visibility, Paul Forville said.
1994: Former two-term Shelby County Sheriff Rick Isgrigg, a detective sergeant, filed his candidacy to run again. Isgrigg had been sheriff from 1983-1990. Isgrigg, 45, was a 22-year veteran of the department. He was a 1967 Shelbyville High School graduate. He and his wife, Linda, the victim’s assistance coordinator with the county prosecutor’s office, had three grown children: Amy, Bryan and Brent.
Members of Shelbyville Middle School’s undefeated seventh-grade boys “A” basketball team won their final tournament following a 16-0 season. Fourteen of those wins were by double digits. The “B” team went 10-1. “A” team members were Brady Claxton, Brent McNeely, Michael Livingston, Tyler Lockridge, Patrick Creel, Kyle Henderson, Josh Hamilton, Adam Browning, Jason McCarty and Luke Logan. Scott Harper and John Chesser were coaches. Nick Chesser and Ted Harper were ball boys. Cheerleaders were Brandy Yonts, Jill Brown, Natalie Washburn, Brooke VanNatta, Lindsey Toll and Kelly Bakes. It was the third undefeated team Chesser had coached in 21 years at the old junior high and present middle school. The others were the 1987-88 team and the 1991-92 team.
1984: Retired Judge Robert D. Ellison died. He had served as judge in three local courts for over 22 years before retiring in 1982 due to declining health. He was succeeded as circuit court judge by Charles D. O’Connor. “It is difficult to put into words my feelings for the man,” Judge O’Connor told The Shelbyville News. “He had considerable impact on my life, both professionally and personally. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He was without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable judges in the state of Indiana. He brought to the law a keen mind, unquestioned integrity and a fair and objective approach. No one can follow in his footsteps as a judge.” Retired Superior Court Judge George R. Tolen also called Ellison “one of the most knowledgeable men of the law” he had known. “Bob and I went to junior high and high school together - he made up his mind in school that he was going to be a judge someday,” Tolen said. Ellison, born in 1920, was the son of dentist Dora Ellison and Emma Ellison. He had graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1939. His wife, Phyllis Anne (Fager), survived.
1974: A man was arrested for assaulting Roy Jones, a bartender at the 900 Tavern on Miller Ave. The man had struck Jones on the head with a metal bar as he started to get in his car after closing the tavern. The man thought Jones has carrying money from the tavern.
1964: Anne Bower, 10, 524 Van Arden Drive, received a new bicycle after winning the county-wide SCUFFY art contest. Anne, a fifth grader at Loper, was near tears, The Shelbyville News said.
1954: Two women escaped injury when their car was struck by a west-bound New York Central passenger train at the crossing near the Stokely Canning Co. in St. Paul. Gladys Minton had started to cross the track when she paused to avoid a pedestrian, leading to a collision with the oncoming train. Minton and her passenger, Eva Cherry, were not injured despite serious damage to the car.
1944: Capt. Harry Miller, 35, a local physician serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, was killed in Algeria. His wife of 14 years, Margaret, was notified that he died of a skull fracture, although no other details were provided. Dr. Miller, who had moved here in 1939, had left here for service in November 1942.
1934: The sixth robbery of the month occurred in Morristown, this one at the Furnas Ice Cream Company managed by Curtis Smith. The business records were destroyed by the thief spilling ink on them. Other places robbed had been the Morristown Water Company, the Variety Store, Handy Wholesale Company and Joe Smith’s restaurant.
1924: Railroad officials announced a special train would run to Martinsville for the high school basketball game. Local officials estimated 1,000 Shelbyville fans would make the trip, even though only 400 tickets were available.
1914: Gilbert Connor, a butcher and former resident of Shelbyville, was arrested after his boss, who Conner had shot, died at St. Vincent’s hospital. The incident followed an argument in Indianapolis, and Connor claimed self-defense. Connor’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Conner, lived at 708 W. Locust St. His cousin, Wilford Connor, operated the Ray Hotel cigar stand.
Shelbyville High School basketball player Robert Markley was declared ineligible for the rest of the school year after using “rough tactics” in a game against Franklin. Markley claimed the real issue was that he had played for pay on independent teams.
OBITUARIES
June M. Neeb, 87, of Shelbyville, passed away Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at her residence. Born February 2, 1937, in Beech Grove, she was the daughter of Henry Earl Rouse and Ernestine (Cutter) Rouse. She married Ronald Hugh Neeb on November 5, 1971 and he survives. Survivors include three children, Bill Riggs (wife Kido) of Aurora, Colorado, Bob Riggs (wife Suzanne) of Oakdale, California, Janet Moulton (husband Charles) of Greensburg; two stepchildren, Kent Neeb (wife Lisa) of Shelbyville and Mary Kay McCauley (husband Ray) of Lafayette; two sisters, Evelyn Reed of Nebraska, Nancy Holt of Ohio, and a brother John Rouse (wife Diane) of Greyslake, Illinois; three granddaughters; two step-granddaughters and several great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Mrs. Neeb was a lifelong resident of this area and attended Shelbyville High School. She had been a factory worker at Overhead Door Corp. in Shelbyville, retiring after 20 years of service. June enjoyed sewing and loved making doll clothes, growing flowers, and dearly loved her dogs, including Baby Girl.
Private graveside services will be 1 p.m. on Monday, February 19, 2024 at Forest Hill Cemetery, with Pastors Mark Vice and Dennis Spears officiating. Friends may call on Monday morning from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road. Memorial contributions can be made to OUR Hospice of South-Central Indiana, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.