By Katie Northcott
The Shelbyville City Council approved its staff to begin negotiations for the Musgrave Park Softball Fields property (Ballpark property) at its August 26 special call meeting.
The city plans to use the property to build a Fire and Police Department complex. The options for properties are limited because the city is looking to minimize the Fire Department’s response time. The Municipal Technical Advisory Service did a study of vacant and partially vacant lots in Shelbyville and found that the ballpark property was the best location for a new fire station.
“They took our current overlap and what our current coverage areas look like, especially the coverage area from Station 1 and Station 2, how those fire halls’ overlap would be affected,” Fire Chief Matt Doak said. “If [the coverage] does overlap, that is considered wasted area.”
Building new police and fire facilities has been a top priority in Shelbyville government’s strategic plan since 2023. The project is still in phase one.
“I thought we were doing a good job, but we don’t have anything,” council member Bobby Turner said after City Attorney Ginger Shofner briefed the council members on the project.
The ballpark property has multiple owners and is likely going to be expensive. Council members were split over whether to buy a property as soon as possible or to wait for a better piece of property to become available.
“Our first priority right now, I think, is we’ve got to find the right piece of property,” Mayor Randy Carroll said. “Let’s find a piece of property that’s the perfect piece of property. We’re looking at 20, 30, 40, 50 years that Fire Department and Police Department is going to be there.”
Carroll would like to have a piece of property purchased before his first term expires, but he also suggested that the council members look at pieces of property that have recently become available before purchasing the ballpark property.
Council members were also split over whether putting the Fire and Police Departments in one building is a good idea.
Council member Henry Feldhaus referenced how Bedford County combined a jail and a courthouse, which he considers a poor decision that will complicate building another jail in the future. He thought splitting the Fire and Police Departments into separate buildings would allow the city to provide for their distinct needs and qualify more lots for purchase.
“I am definitely one who is not married to the idea of putting the Police and Fire Departments in one complex,” Feldhaus said. “Yes, we save a few meeting rooms, conference rooms, bathrooms to some extent. Maybe. But you’ve still got separate administrative offices. You’ve still got specific needs.”
Other council members were not eager to explore other options, pointing out that land is only going to become more expensive as time passes.
Ultimately, the motion to approve staff to negotiate for the Musgrave Softball field property for a combined Fire and Police Department passed 4-2. Council members Marilyn Ewing and Henry Feldhaus opposed the motion. City staff will have to come before the council members with a contract before any purchase is approved.
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