Thursday, March 27, 2025
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Plan Commission Discusses but Fails to Advance Votes on Short-Term Rentals, Comprehensive Plan Update
Shelby County Plan Commission President Kevin Carson started Tuesday’s meeting by saying he hoped “we get enough votes that something goes one way or the other.” In the end, it was more hope than reality. With only six of eight members present and one open seat, the Plan Commission only managed to get the five required votes on a findings of fact approval of a previously approved simple subdivision of two acres at 1273 N 350 E, Shelbyville.
The larger issues of approving a short-term rental ordinance and revisions to the 2019 Comprehensive Plan will reappear on next month’s agenda after lengthy discussion and votes that failed to secure a majority.
The short-term rental standards text amendment draft had been discussed last month, when Plan Commission members requested three changes regarding property registration, occupancy limits and the addition of a sunset clause requiring existing properties to come into compliance with the ordinance within a year. Commission members had also asked about septic system requirements.
“The state is holding fast that Airbnbs will require a commercial septic system review by the state. Regardless of whether we adopt this ordinance or not, that regulation is going to be in effect,” County Planning Director Desiree Calderella said in an update after hearing back from state officials.
County Surveyor and Plan Commission member Jeff Powell said the difference in septic system classifications mostly consisted of the separation distance requirements between the well and the septic system.
Commission member Andrew Newkirk expressed concern about the owners of existing short-term rental properties whose investments would essentially hinge on a variance request despite receiving “tacit permission” from county officials prior to the establishment of the ordinance.
“The issue is that if there’s a chance the variance would not be approved, then a couple of these people may ultimately be forced to sell their property, abandon their business plans because their business model no longer works and then be forced to sell (the properties) off. I think that’s why there’s a lot at stake here for these folks,” he said.
By the time the matter came up for a vote, Newkirk, who was participating via Zoom, temporarily lost connection, and a vote on the revised ordinance failed to pass on a four-to-one vote, with Alicia Barr, Kevin Carson, Megan Hart and Troy Merrick voting yes and Powell voting no.
Consideration of a revised comprehensive plan also failed to advance, which included three potential maps showing various ways of either maintaining or reducing a planned 89 percent reduction in industrial-zoned acreage in Morristown. Several county residents spoke in favor of the reduction, advocating for in Map A.
Bryan Stumpf, HWC Engineering, and Morristown Town attorney Briane House said they preferred Map B but would accept Map C, the latter an attempted compromise between the two positions. House reminded those in attendance that the comprehensive plan “is only a guide.”
“At the last meeting, the approach that was desired was collaboration between the experts, and that's what's happened (with Map C),” House said.
Philip Roth, Ph.D., with American Structurepoint, worked on the original planned reduction and later compromise process. “I want to make sure that that's fully understood, that it's not simply turning over jurisdiction (to Morristown),” Dr. Roth said. “It is instead an agreement to enter into a cooperative partnership with the Town for those areas, and if the county feels that the residents of those areas are not being sufficiently consulted with or represented, (it) has every right not to accept whatever recommendations the Town comes up with.”
A motion to vote to choose Map C garnered yes votes from Carson, Merrick, Newkirk and Powell, but Barr and Hart opposed, sending the matter onto next month’s agenda.
As the large assembled crowd began gathering its items and talking about coming back in a month, Carson acknowledged the dilemma. “It’s disheartening when we don’t have an entire board to vote on something,” he said.
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NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Plan Commission on Monday approved site development plans for Dunkin’ Donuts, 1650 N. Riley Hwy., and a Shell fueling station and convenience store at 425 Progress Road.
A vehicle failed to navigate the turn from W 500 N onto N 150 W and struck a sign. Police located the vehicle in the parking garage of the casino. The driver said she had been blinded by the sun and could not see well and admitted to leaving the scene of the crash. Police conducted an investigation for leaving the scene of an accident and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The Ramp it Up for Veterans team from Leadership Shelby County is selling raffle tickets and offering sponsorship opportunities to assist local charitable organizations who offer aid to veterans in Shelby County. The team’s work kicked off in Fall 2024 with an “Operation Gratitude” initiative, where Shelby County school students wrote heartfelt cards and letters to local veterans, and continued through community volunteerism with the construction of a safe entrance ramp at a local veteran’s home. Now, the team is establishing a Veteran Endowment Fund through the Blue River Community Foundation. This permanent Field of Interest Fund will provide an additional funding stream to nonprofit organizations who aid veterans in Shelby County. The goal is to raise $10,000. To kick off the fundraising, the team has partnered with the Shelbyville American Legion to host a raffle, with all proceeds benefiting the Veteran Endowment Fund. Three winners will be drawn tomorrow, March 28, 7 p.m., at the Shelbyville American Legion. Winners do not have to be present to win, but everyone is invited to the drawing celebration. Raffle items include: Two half hogs donated by local farmer Nathan Stickford and a $100 Gift Card to Spegal’s Prime Cuts, donated by Amy and Greg Spegal. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 and are available for purchase at the Shelbyville American Legion and from the following team members: Gena Linville (Major Health Partners); Jessica Montgomery (WorkOne); Aaron Jenkins (CraneWerks Inc.); Lora Nigh (Golden Bear Preschool); Nathan Stickford (Shelby County Co-op); Dominique Huber (City of Shelbyville – Water Resource Recovery); Emily Redelman (Kuhn’s Shelbyville Paint, Flooring & More); and Laura Land (Blue River Community Foundation). Individual and corporate sponsorships are also appreciated. Checks can be made payable to the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, with Veterans – Leadership Shelby County in the memo.
HOOSIER NEWS: Language in a broad Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) bill that could do away with registration stickers and make it harder for organizations to qualify for specialty license plates is likely to be dialed back, per Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield. Additional testimony on the amendments will be allowed at next week’s meeting before the committee takes any votes. If approved, bills will still have to clear the Senate Appropriations Committee before advancing to the full chamber. The current draft of House Bill 1390, the BMV-specific legislation, would permit the agency to sunset physical registration stickers and instead transition to a fully-electronic system. Bill author Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, said Tuesday that Hoosiers could print their registration documents at home, “saving the state money on mailing and the registration form itself, along with the sticker.” A fiscal analysis said the anticipated savings are $2.75 million per year. Regarding registration tags, Crider said one of his upcoming amendments “will take that portion out” altogether. “It’s an important tool for law enforcement,” Crider said. As written, the measure additionally increases the amount of signatures required to get a specialty license plate. Indiana offers the unique plates for nonprofit organizations, colleges, military branches and other groups to help the organizations raise funds and awareness for particular causes. Current law requires 500 signatures to be collected “in no particular amount of time” before a plate application can be submitted for review, Pressel noted. His bill proposes an increase to 1,000 signatures that must be obtained during a single calendar year. The state has so far approved 146 specialty plates, just shy of the 150-plate limit in Indiana Code. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: The U.S. Bureau of Land Management annually rounds up wild horses roaming in the American West on public lands, as their unmitigated presence can have negative effects on the areas’ ecosystem. As of March 1, the Bureau is reporting that there are 73,130 wild horses on the range, down just 400 from last year’s count of 73,520 — that’s the lowest number in eight years. According to the agency, there are around 47,000 excess wild horses and burros in the west, meaning that current levels are way too high to avoid damage to soil and water. The issue is that at a moment when budgets are being cut, caring for the horses that have been caught is too pricey. As it stands, the Bureau has 68,143 wild horses and burros in captivity, which is approaching the maximum that it can handle. The Bureau can only adopt out around 5,000 to 7,000 horses in its care every year, and even that program is now on hold after federal courts decided it violated federal law. Without mitigation, wild horse herds can double every four years, presenting a bit of an impasse. (E&E News/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
Dec. 15, 1954, Part II
Mr. Creek had turned off the stokers one day to listen to the daily bulletin over the loud speaker system. He forgot, however, to turn them back on. After some complaints, the stokers were fired back to life.
Alumnus Phyllis Fleming, class of 1942, had recently received her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Wisconsin. She was an instructor at Wellesley College.
“Do you know another name for the knee cap? A lot of Miss Bodem’s Nursing girls don’t know either, because instead of writing ‘patella’, several wrote ‘batella’ on their test.”
Marvin McLane and Jim Deupree had given up their sixth period study hall for several days to dust and polish all of the trophies and trophy cases in the building.
Basketball coach Loren Joseph had purchased gold caps with black bills and black buttons on top for players to wear after leaving the showers and entering the night air with damp air.
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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 by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials.
2005: Roland “Mac” McClanahan had recently passed away. He had owned a manufacturing-equipment firm specializing in automotive-rebuilding equipment and was involved in numerous service organizations. He also raised over $100,000 for defibrillating devices to be installed locally and in other county emergency management vehicles. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of both World War II and the Korean War.
1995: Cobb’s Place on Miller Ave. had to close three hours early because a disgruntled customer ripped out the tavern’s electric meter on the south side of the building, tossed it in his pickup truck and drove off, leaving the tavern without power. Police arrested the man and found the electric meter in a trash bin near his truck.
1985: A three-story men’s dormitory at Franklin College, Bryan Hall, was destroyed by fire. All 115 residents escaped without injury.
The Shelby County Plan Commission and home builders laid the groundwork to begin revision of the county’s five-acre law, a requirement builders claim was restricting construction and growth.
A fire in the kitchen of Cobb’s Place, 11 E. Broadway, formerly Kettler’s Tavern, caused $15,000 in damage.
1975: More than 200 people gathered at the Blue Bird Restaurant in Morristown for the first annual meeting of the Morristown Chamber of Commerce. Bill Whiteside was named their first Man of the Year. Chamber President Paul Caldwell presented a savings bond to Steve Saxon, 8, who had found a sizable amount of money inside a Morristown telephone booth and turned the money over to an adult. John Mulvaney, plant manager for Nabisco Co. in Morristown, received a state flag from the Chamber.
1965: Police Chief Robert Nolley recommended the promotion of Ezra Dagley and Lewis Myers to the rank of lieutenant and the permanent appointment of Patrolman Charles Fewell Jr., which the board of works approved.
Pearson Girl Scouts hiked from the school to the sewage treatment plant on Boggstown Road for a field trip and back.
1955: Due to a lack of Republican candidates filing to run, there would likely only be a Democrat primary ballot in Shelbyville, local election officials said. It would mark the first time in Shelby County history only one party held a primary. Democrats had four contested races.
1945: Over 40 selective service registrants from Shelby County were called for induction. It was the largest local induction group in several months.
1935: A new state law called for each county to appoint an Alcoholic Beverage Board. Each member of the board would receive $120 ($2,800 in today’s money) per year.
1925: Plans were finalized to demolish the Eberhart Grain elevator in the Dorsey block off West Broadway. William Meloy and AJ Thurston had purchased the buildings on the block, and said the elevator was a fire menace.
Paul Fix, star guard and captain on the SHS basketball team, was awarded the Paul Cross Medal, presented by Rev. S.J. Cross. Rev. L.C. Murr, pastor of the West Street church, and Wallace Reimann spoke at the ceremony.
1915: Judge Alonzo Blair took under advisement a divorce case. The husband claimed his wife of 20 years had cursed at him.
Jennie Reed, a long-time member of Second Baptist Church and prominent community member, died. She was born in Kentucky prior to the Civil War. She and her husband had purchased property on East Mechanic Street when they moved to Shelbyville some 40 years’ prior.
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OBITUARIES
Annette Faith Burton, 72, of Mitchell, formally of Shelbyville, Ind., passed away at 3 p.m., on March 24, 2025, peacefully at her residence surrounded by family and friends. Born July 26, 1952, in Shelbyville, Ind., she was the daughter of Robert C. and Muriel E. (Essex) Cavaness. She was married to Danny Wayne Burton on August 14, 1970, in Shelbyville, Ind.
Annette was a member of the First Apostolic Church in Mitchell, Ind. She came from a highly respected and loved family grounded in the Apostolic Faith. Annette was born into a godly home and she loved and served God faithfully all her life. She was an active member of her congregation and was strong in her faith to the end. Annette is remembered by family and friends as a dedicated and steadfast wife and mother. She was dependable in all situations and giving to a fault. Annette spent 30 years in home healthcare, and this was a passion for her. She began her career working with mentally and physically handicapped children. She poured her heart into each child and around the age of 40 she pursued her CNA certification. In the latter years of her work she assisted elderly patients, becoming a friend and confidant to many.
She is survived by two sons, Robert Wayne (Rachel) Burton of Mitchell, Ind., and Daniel Shayne Burton of Shelbyville, Ind.; two grandchildren, Adrianna (Jake) Smith of Canton, Ohio and Braylon Burton of Mitchell, Ind.; one brother, Robert W. (Arlene) Cavaness of Joplin, Mo., and one sister, Evette Spurling of Mitchell, Ind. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, brother-in-law Todd A. Spurling of Mitchell, Ind., and her parents.
The Celebration of Life Service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the First Apostolic Church in Mitchell with Elder Jonathan Alvear and Elder Terry Meade officiating. A graveside service will be held at Mitchell Cemetery immediately following. The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2025, at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to FAC Missions Fund.