Following a plea from Major Health Partners, the City of Shelbyville has instituted a mask mandate in all city-controlled facilities.

Shelbyville mayor Tom DeBaun asked the Common Council at Wednesday night’s meeting at City Hall to extend an executive order for a mask mandate until Oct. 12.

“We are hearing pleas of assistance from our healthcare professionals, our pediatricians, and the (Shelby County) health officer, Dr. (Chris) Loman,” said DeBaun. “They have asked that we consider a mask mandate in city facilities. The county, I believe, will be doing the same thing at their meeting next week.”

Vaccinated or not, those entering city facilities must again wear a mask.

According to Major Health Partners incident command update Wednesday, Shelby County’s COVID-positivity rate has increased to 15.2%.

Priority care is averaging 70 walk-in patients per day; the emergency department is averaging 80 patients per day since Aug. 1. There are 17 critical care patients at MHP with nine on ventilators. There have been six deaths since Saturday, five due to COVID-19.

In other Common Council business Wednesday, ARP (American Rescue Plan) funds were approved, which includes funding for the Shelby County Youth Assistance Program.

M/I Homes’ representatives Brian Touhy and Tim Westerfield appeared before the council to discuss a new housing subdivision adjacent to Timber Creek Village Assisted Living, 990 Progress Parkway (photo above).

The 53-acre project needs to be rezoned and annexed into the city. Once that is completed, the plan is to build 162 single-family homes ranging from 1,500-to-3,000 square feet with an average price of $300,000.

The project will be formally presented to the Plan Commission at its next meeting, Sept. 27 at Breck Auditorium at Shelbyville High School.

The council voted 4-1 to dissolve the Northwest Shelby County Regional Sewer District, created in the summer of 2012, a move first enacted by the Shelby County Commissioners in late August. Despite a plea from Jeremy Miller, president of the Northwest Shelby County Regional Sewer District, for more time to discuss options with Indiana American Water, a vote was held.

Councilman Tyson Conrady was the lone vote against the resolution. Councilman Rob Nolley and councilwoman Joanne Bowen were not in attendance at the meeting Wednesday.

The council also annexed a five-acre piece of property at 1842 West 450 North, near the Indiana Grand casino, and the Zinser property along Amos Road just south of the Golden Bear Preschool.