Stellar Communities loss leaves downtown Shelbyville funding uncertain

However, in both cases that financial support was contingent on the city winning the state's Stellar Communities designation.

The state announced last week Shelbyville did not win the Stellar competition, which leaves the question of what the county and city will do now.

"We would have to come back and have that discussion," County Councilman Terry Smith (R - 3rd District) said Friday at a special meeting of the council.

Shelbyville Mayor Tom DeBaun said he plans to meet with local officials soon to plan a new strategy to fund the downtown project, which has an estimated cost of nearly $20 million. 

County Council President Tony Titus (R - At Large) said at the meeting Friday he wants to meet and figure out a plan.

"We'll get together and see what the next step is," he said.

City Councilman Brad Ridgeway (R - 4th Ward) said he also wants to hear more discussion about the downtown project, but not about going forward with it as it is now.

"I am not in favor of putting that kind of money in one location," said Ridgeway, who would like to see a plan which includes redevelopment in other parts of the city beyond just the downtown. 

Ridgeway also said he'd like to bring in a different architect and get more input from the community at large about what the plan should be.

Brian Asher, executive director of the Shelby County Development Corp., the county's local economic development organization, was out of town at a conference and could not be reached directly.

However, in a voicemail, Asher, who is also a member of the Shelbyville Common Council, said while he's disappointed about the Stellar result, he sees it as a win for the region since Rushville, the Stellar designee, is right next door to Shelby County.