A “strategic plan” for the City of Shelbyville was presented to the City Council at a Tuesday study session which outlined many strengths and weakness.
The report, in its third draft …
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A “strategic plan” for the City of Shelbyville was presented to the City Council at a Tuesday study session which outlined many strengths and weakness.
The report, in its third draft form, was shared by Chuck Downham, a municipal management consultant with the Technical Advisory Service (MTAS).
According to Downham, a strategic plan “established a long-term direction of where a city wants to be in the future and key goals and objectives that will be needed.” The mayor along with city council held a workshop on March 1 for this plan.
They outlined the four main goals:
During the study session, council was also given an annual audit and comprehensive financial report by Patrick Lile whose firm gave Shelbyville a “clean bill of health.”
The strategic plan’s report outlines a 2019 SWOT analysis—one based on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
For strengths, they listed: strong agency relationships, overall communication, transparency, grant opportunities, airport, natural resources (the river), vocational training, public safety, fiscally responsible governing body, strong city finances, strong leadership (council and staff), available utilities (water, gas, sewer), location, affordable property, reasonable cost of living, and community safety.
For weaknesses, they listed: too much government housing, low citizen participation, low initiative and follow through on goals, park amenities (bathrooms, concessions), sales tax leakage, industrial growth, proximity to bigger population centers, low variety of retail, lack of community events, city promotion, and utilization of technology.
For opportunities, they listed varied arena use, capitalization on leisure time for travel, long-term comprehensive plan with downtown focus, walkability, urban growth boundary expansion, capitalize on regional growth, commercial and industrial recruitment, improve government cooperation, City Charter review, expansion of existing industry, and capitalize on natural resources.
They also listed several threats, including, annexation limitations, fringe growth, demand on local school system, and demographics.
To show the growth and stagnation of the city, the plan then listed a new 2023 SWOT analysis.
For strengths, they listed financial stability, diversity, history/heritage, quality of life, economic development, retail/industrial base, Highway 231, leadership (council/staff), airport, Duck River, “Small Town U.S.A.,” citizens, public safety, vocational training.
For weakness, they listed 41A East, “Small City U.S.A.,” beautification (enforcement v. pride), imbalance on where development is occurring, water supply (flow/pressure), sewer service-extensions and upgrades needed, internet service, communication, planned growth, growth preparedness, business/industry retention, low variety of retail, underdeveloped property, and inability to annex.
For opportunities, they listed better jobs/wages, Duck River development, industrial sites/park, Tennessee College of Applied Technology expansion, sales tax allocation, transition from small to medium-sized city, 41A east corridor (focus growth), increase tourism, beauty of city, state financial assistance with development impacts, and the 437 Bypass (development planning and access control).
And, finally, for threats, they listed work ethic/attitudes, unemployment benefits (disincentive to employment), moving too fast (growth and development, fiscal resources, community character and identity), rental housing, and bedroom community (sales tax leakage).
With this analysis completed, the report also listed the single most important thing for the city to accomplish in the next year as sales tax allocation between the city and Bedford County as well as the completion of the flood pump and flume repair project. In the next several years, the hope to tackle U.S. 231 North and 41A East utility extensions.
Once adopted, it is recommended the strategic plan be evaluated on an annual basis as part of the fiscal budget process and then updated every three years.
The next city council meeting will be Thursday, April 13, at 6 p.m. at the Shelbyville Recreation Center.
