Sunday, October 27, 2024
Next Steps on Pedestrian Trail
The pedestrian trail project continues, with this view of progress from W. McKay Road at Meridian Street, looking north. | photo by JACK BOYCE
Plan Commission Backs Revised Ordinance Regarding Solar, Overlay District
by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
The Shelby County Plan Commission this week gave a favorable recommendation, on a 6-1 vote, to update the Unified Development Ordinance regarding commercial solar energy systems. The multiple changes include the establishment of a solar overlay district in lieu of a special exception process.
The document’s stated goals “encourage development of alternative energy production facilities in sparsely populated areas and in industrial areas along the I-74 corridor”; limit development so that it doesn’t “detract from the county’s rural character and agricultural function”; and preserves “prime farmland and agricultural road frontage in rural areas of the county.” (Solar energy projects are typically installed on farm ground using long-term leases of 30 to 35 years, according to Farm Bureau’s Market Intel.)
Jared Wren, Senior Manager of Development & Stakeholder Engagement at Hecate Energy, took issue with the revisions. He asked for specific definitions of “sparsely populated rural areas” and “industrial areas along the I-74 corridor.” (County Plan Director Desiree Calderella said the document is for “broad guidance,” so specific definitions are not included.) Wren also accused the commission of “spot zoning” and expressed concern about “lost revenue for landowners who are unable to participate in a solar project due to the nature of the proposed setbacks” and “the potential impacts of increased electricity prices for Indiana residents due to a lack of generation capacity; put differently, less supply and more demand equates to higher electricity prices.”
But he found few sympathetic ears in the packed annex room.
“It's our choice. It's our county,” County Councilman Kyle Barlow, speaking as a member of the public, said.
Others, such as Blake Newkirk, thanked Plan Commission members for their work.
Rachael Barlow said the commission had helped ensure that living next to a commercial solar project was “not injurious to our property values, public health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the community.”
She said she supported the ordinance and the new setback requirement of 660 feet from the property line of a non-participating property, including property lines of properties not adjacent to the commercial solar system. A non-participating property owner can reduce or waive the setback requirements, but Calderella clarified that if a subdivision within those 660 feet had nine property owners and one refused to waive the requirement, it would not be waived for anyone.
“You’re not going to override your neighbor,” she said.
Among other changes, the Rezoning Application fee, which would have been raised from $450 to $5,650, ended up at $9,250, and the variance fee would increase from $375 to $4,750.
Plan Commission member Megan Hart expressed general hesitation with solar energy projects.
“Solar is new. It's an industry that is constantly changing and improving. It will continue to do so over that time, which is great,” she said before suggesting two revisions, which were included in the approval. “It is vital that Shelby County consider this type of development very carefully and slowly because of the massive amount of land these projects consume. The projects can take many years to complete construction and start generating electricity.”
Members voting yes to the favorable recommendation were Jason Abel, Kevin Carson, Megan Hart, David Lawson, Charity Mohr and Jeff Powell. Terry Smith, Plan Commission President, was the lone dissenting vote. The proposed ordinance now goes to County Commissioners for consideration.
NOTEBOOK:
NATIONAL NEWS: During the pandemic when shows couldn’t go on, merchandise became a bigger slice of the pie for musical artists. The global market for music merch hit $13.4 billion last year, which does include vinyl and CD business, because given their physical existence they in many ways behave not dissimilarly to a tour T-shirt from the perspective of the record company. Physical music is actually expected to peak in 2025 and then begin to decline, but apparel and digital merch are expected to more than make up the difference. Thing is, the margins on music are simply way better than on clothes: The profit margin is 25.4 percent for recorded music at Universal Music Group, but just 5.3 percent for its merch. (Billboard/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights:
Nov. 3, 1964
College-bound seniors took the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) for a $4.50 fee. A total of 207 SHS students had already taken the test.
Mr. Emerson Bass drove Student Council members Jerry Alexander, Keith Patterson, Dick Huber, Rosie Thieman and Sally Horton to a national student government convention in Kentucky.
Mask and Dagger members Mike Lindsay, Steve Miller, John Kehl, Greg Hall and Mike Cooper starred in “Tell it to Tommy,” performed at Pearson school auditorium. Kathy Haas, Bonnie Schneider, Ruth Pritchard, Judy Mullens, Kathy Nally and Susan DePrez were in in “Never Trust a Man.” Also, Sharon Russel, Pam Beck, Emilou Eck and Dick Huber were in “The Golden Slippers,” directed by Mr. Kocher with assistance from Brian Barlow.
Sunshine girls from around the state met locally. “Sunshine girls with bobbed hair, dressed in short skirts, middy blouses and knee socks, rambled over Shelbyville in search of the First Presbyterian Church, where their convention would be held.” There was plenty of enthusiasm for the theme, “The Building of a Sunshine Castle.” The high school orchestra played selections, followed by formal welcomes by Miss Marjorie Mull and W.F. Vogel. Ann Cline was president of the Shelbyville Senior Sunshine. Reba Robinson led the creed, and Shelby McRoberts, treasurer, dismissed the group for lunch. Judy Haas, secretary, conducted a drawing in which boxes of candy were given away.
Radio Club elected officers: John Fleming, Jim Hoff, Mark McNeely and Tom Debaun.
Gene Sexton’s freshman football team won its fourth straight game, 38-0, over Whiteland. Kent Lockman ran for a 50-yard touchdown. Richard Brown, Mike Platt, Fred Avant and Steve Drake also scored touchdowns.
This Day in Shelby County History
News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
2014: Editor’s note: Due to a microfilm processing error, the 2014 section for the next couple of weeks will serve to memorialize a local individual who passed away that year.) Brett Keel, 50, passed away Dec. 13. He was survived by his grandmother, Eva Keel, with whom he lived. Brett graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1982 and had been employed at Shares, Inc. for 30 years. Brett had loved checking buildings with his father, “Bud” Keel, in the 1980s and ’90s.
2004: School transportation officials complained about the number of basketball goals located along streets. Bus drivers were having issues with goals whose backboard and goal hung over the roadway. Plan Director Tom DeBaun and Mayor Scott Furgeson said they would review the matter.
1994: The Shelby County Noon Sertoma Club sponsored the Famous Cole Indoor Variety Circus at Shelbyville Middle School to raise funds for hearing aids for those who couldn’t afford them.
1984: Dr. Ron McDaniels got a little different kind of office warming party. McDaniels, a big Indiana University fan, walked into his examination room to find it covered with Purdue University stickers and buttons and filled with black and gold crepe paper and banners. McDaniels, who had moved into a new office at 488 Amos Road a couple of days earlier, could only shake his head at his friends’ “warming” gifts. “He laughingly said, ‘It goes right along with the mentality of West Lafayette graduates,’” The Shelbyville News said.
1974: Waldron Band Boosters held a rummage sale in a vacant store at E. Washington and Pike streets to raise funds for the band to travel to a national competition at Six Flags near St. Louis, Mo. Band Director Joseph Tobias said the band’s goal was $4,000.
1964: Three young men were arrested and charged after allegedly setting fire to a cornshock decoration at the northwest corner of N. Harrison and W. Franklin St. The shock was destroyed, the light pole paint damaged and a state highway department sign blackened by fire.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Richard Ristine’s “man-on-the-go” helicopter campaign carried him into Shelbyville. The helicopter landed two blocks south of Public Square, on the former Jay C. Store lot. Mayor Ralph VanNatta headed a delegation to meet with Ristine.
1954: A flag-raising ceremony, organized by members of the Shelbyville American Legion, was held at the 82-acre site of the new General Electric factory, to the built on the city’s east side.
1944: A five-room home owned by Kate Lee and occupied by the Abe Caylor family, located near Boggstown, was destroyed by fire. Sparks from the chimney had ignited leaves in the gutters to start the fire.
1934: A B-O-P automobile radio in the new Oldsmobile sedan belonging to attorney George Tolen was stolen while the car was parked in the owner’s garage. The thief apparently used a skeleton key to open the garage door. A neighbor who witnessed the incident said the thief drove away in a green roadster with rusty fenders.
1924: Twenty caddies employed with Blue River Country Club enjoyed an annual banquet. About 10 golf players entertained the kids at the party. Wallace Reiman was in charge of the event.
Columbus Wagner, who had been accompanied to the bathroom on South Pike St. by his young brother-in-law, Charles Lane, 12, narrowly escaped death while taking a bath. Members of the family had heard a groan and when no response was made, the family members broke down the bathroom door to find the two passed out from gas heater fumes. Dr. Tindall and Dr. Bass responded to the incident, and the two were later reported to be in good condition.
1914: The Standard Bearers of First M.E. Church sent a large box of dolls to children in Europe, to be distributed as Christmas presents. The dolls were sent via the American Express to Brooklyn, N.Y., where they were then placed on a ship.
OBITUARIES
Megan Elizabeth Nichols, 15, of Shelbyville, passed away Sunday, October 20, 2024 at MHP. She was born March 30, 2009, in Ukraine. Megan had many battles here on Earth, but she ultimately won by earning her wings. After her short life, she is now in the arms of Jesus.
She is survived by her parents, Billy, and Nancy Nichols; her sisters, Audra Cannon, Kelsie (husband, Aaron) Peterman, Rachael (Andrew Cowles) Nichols and Sarah (Nick Proffer) Nichols; her nieces and nephews, Mia, Cohen, Hazel, Hannah, Silas, Cora, Olive, Peyton, and Talia. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, John and Judy Dauenhauer and her paternal grandparents, John and Joyce Nichols.
Graveside services will be Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Whispering Hope Memorial Gardens & Crematory. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Megan’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
Paula D. Bentley, 62, of Greensburg, passed away Thursday, October 24, 2024. She was born January 13, 1962 in Greensburg, Ind., to Sheridan Ray Bentley and Paulette (Alexander) Bentley Lane.
Paula graduated from South Decatur High School with the class of 1980. She honorably served in the United States Army for three years. She had a love for the outdoors and nature. She especially loved the times spent hiking, camping and bird watching. One of her favorite places to hike was up in New York. Paula was creative and enjoyed wood working. She also enjoyed music of all kinds and even played the trumpet. Some of her favorite times were spent on retreats with friends, such as, Healing Warrior Hearts, Operation Red Wings Foundation and Homeward Bound Adirondacks. During the times spent with Homeward Bound, she thrived on volunteering and helping her fellow veterans. Paula touched many lives while active with these organizations and she grew special friendships that were very important to her. She had previously worked at the YMCA in Greensburg for several years before starting to enjoy retirement.
She is survived by her mother; her sister, Susannah Sering; her niece, Allee (husband, Joseph) Kreppein; her great-nieces and nephew, Juliet, Madeleine, Alice and Philip. She was preceded in death by her father; her paternal grandparents, Elvin and Bernice Bentley and maternal grandparents, Paul and Catherine Alexander.
Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Paula’s family. Memorial donations honoring Paula may be sent to Healing Warrior Hearts, 10919 W. Bluemound Rd. #50, Milwaukee, Wis., 53226. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.