As requested earlier this month, the meeting occured so that the two parties could work out all agreements on a joint project.
For the past several board meetings, the supervisors have been discussing how to assist Shelby in building an access road to Shelby Nursing and Rehab.
“We are pursuing a grant,” said Alderman Dan Harris. “Mr. (Richard) Coleman and Mr. (Will) Hooker have been with the nursing home working on that.”
“We’re not really asking the county for money,” said Mayor Kermit Stanton. “We want Mr. Hooker’s help writing the grant and Mr. (Bob) Eley’s help to get a ballpark figure (on the project).”
City and nursing home officials are looking to build the access road as a way to get emergency responders to the home faster.
“The access road is for emergency purposes,” said Stanton. “I think it’s going to promote economic growth in Shelby, which promotes economic growth in the county.”
“I think they’ve got all the ducks in order,” said Supervisor Coleman.
However, one supervisor still had some questions about the project.
“Will the grant cover the cost of the access road,” asked Supervisor Donny Whitten. “If you get the grant, you won’t need county funds?”
“The agreement with the nursing home does not include the county,” said Stanton.
According to Stanton, city officials and representatives from the nursing home have been working together on a contingency plan, in case they are awarded a partial grant or don’t receive a grant at all.
The city and the nursing home, according to the mayor, will split the costs of things like engineering fees.
When complete, the access road will be “about three Shelby blocks” in length, the Shelby representatives reported to the board.
“We do appreciate assistance from the county,” said Stanton. “We are making an effort as a small town.
“We don’t have the equipment but we do have the manpower,” he continued, noting that the municipality was willing to work to make the project happen.