City of Shelbyville to issue bonds to pay for amphitheater at Blue River Memorial Park, road improvement projects leading into city

The City of Shelbyville continues to put the steps in place for the construction of an amphitheater at Blue River Memorial Park and road upgrades along North Riley Highway and the expansion of Tom Hession Drive.

Lease rental revenue bonds will be issued up to $25 million to cover the two road projects along North Riley Highway leading into downtown Shelbyville and connecting phase I of Tom Hession Drive south to Mausoleum Road.

The North Riley Highway project is expected to begin Monday with barrels being laid out today.

“The North Riley Highway will basically be, it will take that section of road two lanes in both directions with a center median, but the median will be curbed with trees and plantings,” explained Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson Wednesday night after the Common Council meeting at City Hall. “It won’t be one continuous suicide lane. It will actually be a median with curbs and trees. There will be a walking path on the Knauf (east) side all the way down to Rampart Road.”

The project also will include the installation of two roundabouts at the Michigan Road intersection and at the entrance to the new subdivision being built called Isabelle Farms. These will be built in 2025.

Using the Knauf tax increment fund (TIF), a new truck entrance will be built for the local manufacturer.

“There will be a dedicated center turn lane for (their trucks) when they are coming south to pull in there and turn east,” said Furgeson.

The project will initially close the exterior lanes on both sides of North Riley Highway. Four lanes of traffic will resume at North Michigan Road.

“We don’t anticipate this being a huge traffic issue,” said Furgeson. “They will start working on the sides, putting curbs and the walking path in and keep working in until we get it all done.”

The $25 million in bonds also will help finish Tom Hession Drive from 200 to 300 South and then south toward Shelbyville.

“We are doing one bond issue to save us money,” said Furgeson. “I don’t think we are going to issue those bonds until November to hope interest rates keep going down to save money.”

The city also is issuing approximately $13 million in bonds to build an amphitheater, replace all the lighting and assist with a facility project at the cross country course – all located in Blue River Memorial Park.

“All the lights in the park have been there almost 20 years,” said Furgeson. “We will replace all the lights on Lee Boulevard and in the park. And $300,000 is for the cross country course for a project.”

In other Common Council business Wednesday:

• Approved the rezoning request of the property at 713 S. Miller St. from R1 (Single Family Residential) to BG (Business General). Birpartap Saini, owner of the Valero gas station and convenience store adjacent to the Miller St. property, plans to merge 603 Colescott St. and 713 S. Miller St. and create a larger convenience store to service the surrounding community.
• Approved a 5% pay raise for full-time city employees. LTC category employees (parks maintenance workers and trash collection) received a 10% raise while police department employees received a 13.4% increase.
• Approved a standard 10-year tax abatement for Plastic Moldings Company, LLC, located at 1451 S. Miller Avenue in Shelbyville, for the purchase of $87,793 in new manufacturing equipment. “They have become more of a medical device company versus the old days when it was automotive. They are a little hidden gem in Shelbyville that does quality work and hiring people and keeping busy,” said Furgeson.

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