Shelbyville council signals extra support for library and senior center, asks staff to pursue senior‑center relocation plan

Shelbyville councilors on June 4 reviewed nonprofit requests, heard from Margaret Penny of the public library, and discussed the financially strained senior center.

Margaret Penny attended and described library outreach and capital needs, including an outdoor project the library expects to finish in mid‑July and plans to expand Wi‑Fi coverage with extenders for outdoor use. The library reported a current budget of roughly $164,812 and requested about $190,358 for next year, including a proposed 16‑hour‑per‑week outreach position to support bookmobile and community programming.

Councilors reviewed the senior center’s financial distress and low participation tied to its current location. Several members urged pursuing a move to a more visible location and suggested seeking county partnership and private funding for relocation. One councilor proposed issuing an RFQ in July to hire an architect and scope a relocation/expansion project so the council can return with concrete cost estimates and funding options.

At the workshop councilors gave staff directional approval to increase the library request by approximately 10% (aligning city support with the county’s percentage increase), signaled support for increasing funding to the senior center (council discussed roughly $30,000 additional support), and asked staff to return with budget amendment options. These were workshop directions rather than formally adopted appropriations; any changes will require formal action in a future meeting.