Mayor-elect Scott Furgeson (photo) has announced the appointment of Tom Reaves and Val Phares to the Board of Public Works and Safety as well as the Public Utility Board. Both men will undertake their duties starting Jan. 1.

Reaves is self-employed and runs a mail order business called Ballcards and More, which he started in 1989. He also manages the property at 42 E. Washington St. that he and his wife, Bonni, purchased and remodeled in 2010. The building had been vacant for eight years at the time, and it now houses Reaves’ business along with four other tenants.

Reaves, a life-long Shelbyville resident, is a proponent of downtown revitalization as well as historic building preservation.

Phares retired from a supervisor’s role at Eli Lilly in 2023. He also has been a small business owner in the Shelbyville community for over 20 years. Phares, also a life-long Shelbyville resident, served one term on the Shelbyville Common Council from 2008-2012.

The mayor also serves on both boards, which are part of the executive branch of local government. The Board of Works and Public Safety is responsible for enforcing city ordinances, reviewing and approving payment of claims, entering into contracts on behalf of the city, and handling any personnel issues for city safety employees.

The Public Utilities Board oversees the MS4 office and the Water Resource Recovery Facility.

“Tom and Val have worked hard through the years as members of our community to contribute and make things better,” said Furgeson. “Both really care about Shelbyville, and I’m confident they’ll do all they can to bring improvements to the city.”

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