Shelby City Council approves fire equipment purchase, EMT training, employee raise and TIF resolution; requests renovation budget for 21 East Street

The Shelby City Council on Nov. 19, 2024 approved a set of routine but immediate actions including a fire equipment purchase, EMT training funding, an employee pay increase and a TIF resolution, and asked a local property owner to provide a renovation budget so council staff can evaluate potential city incentives.

Mayor Ron Kroll presided over the meeting, which began at 7:00 p.m. and recorded councilmembers Jackie Hursey, Pat Honeywell, Todd Frank, Karen Schlueter and Traci True as present. The council approved the evening’s agenda on a motion by Councilmember Pat Honeywell, seconded by Todd Frank; no conflicts of interest were declared.

Caitlin Albright presented a plan to renovate a building she owns at 21 East Street into four apartments. The council requested that Albright submit a detailed budget and project costs to allow staff to assess which City incentives might apply and what levels of support could be offered.

On procurement and public-safety items, the council approved a quote from MTECH Inc. for a fire suppression skid unit priced at $15,444.36. The Shelby Fire Department has secured a $7,200 grant from the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa toward that purchase. The motion to approve the quote was made by Pat Honeywell, seconded by Jackie Hursey, and passed on a roll call vote of all ayes.

The council also approved estimated training expenses of approximately $8,500 for an EMT certification class scheduled to run January–April 2025 at the Shelby Fire Hall; about seven Shelby Volunteer Fire Department members indicated interest. That motion was made by Pat Honeywell and seconded by Jackie Hursey and passed unanimously.

On personnel, the council approved a $1.00-per-hour raise for Joey Brenneis following a 90-day evaluation, bringing his pay to $23.00 per hour; the raise was made retroactive to Oct. 1, 2024. The motion, made by Jackie Hursey and seconded by Todd Frank, passed on an all-aye roll call.

In other business, Councilmember Karen Schlueter moved and Todd Frank seconded approval of Resolution 11-24 authorizing advances to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) fund; the resolution passed on a unanimous roll call. The council also approved the 2024 Urban Renewal report, with one correction to add a development agreement with Paul Schulte; that approval came on a motion by Schlueter, seconded by Pat Honeywell.

The meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.

Votes at a glance
- Agenda approval: motion by Pat Honeywell, second by Todd Frank — all ayes; motion carried.
- MTECH Inc. quote ($15,444.36) approval: motion by Pat Honeywell, second by Jackie Hursey — all ayes; motion carried. Grant noted: Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, $7,200.
- EMT training expenses (approx. $8,500) approval: motion by Pat Honeywell, second by Jackie Hursey — all ayes; motion carried.
- Joey Brenneis pay increase ($1.00/hr to $23.00/hr, retroactive to Oct. 1, 2024): motion by Jackie Hursey, second by Todd Frank — all ayes; motion carried.
- Resolution 11-24 (TIF): motion by Karen Schlueter, second by Todd Frank — all ayes; motion carried.
- 2024 Urban Renewal report approval (correction: add development agreement with Paul Schulte): motion by Karen Schlueter, second by Pat Honeywell — all ayes; motion carried.

The council asked the presenter of the 21 East Street project to return with a project budget and costs so staff can assess eligibility for city incentives; no formal incentive commitment was made at this meeting.