Water lines and remodeling and A.i., oh my! City council walks through a lot of business, economic vitality
- Chuck Thompson
- Jun 16
- 6 min read
By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent
Economic viability and a new water line replacement were the main discussion of Monday's city council meeting, with a brief discussion about A.I. use by city employees at the end of the meeting.
The City of Shelby City Council meeting started with Mayor Stan Anthony requesting to amend the agenda adding to the consent agenda of a resolution to adding women coaches and officials to the Cleveland County Wall of Fame at Holly Oak memorial Park and a substitution for item resolution for a rejection of all bids received for the South Lafayette water line replacement project. The motion was made by Council Member Andrew Hopper and passed unanimously.
Two special presentations were made, one consisted of a proclamation recognizing July as Park and Recreation Month, presented by Mayor Anthony. The second presentation was an Uptown Shelby Association update by Carly Bostic, executive director.
“As everyone knows, our parks and recreation department is one of our highlights of our community,” noted Anthony. “One of the things we’re most proud – certainly I am. We have an outstanding program with a long history here; and I think it’s very appropriate if we recognize the month of July as Park and Recreation Month.”
After reading the proclamation, Anthony lauded Director of Parks and Recreation Charlie Holtzclaw for the outstanding work he and his team does for the residents of Shelby.
Next, the Uptown Shelby Association update was presented, where Bostic talked of a vibrant economic Uptown Shelby. She spoke about a light fund where she presented a mockup of what the goal will look like offering happier vibes and also providing more safety.
Bostic discussed how, over the past year, Uptown Shelby has welcomed 10 new businesses and experienced three expansions of established businesses, which created 16 full-time positions and 19 part-time positions.
Bostic noted the greater picture of economic vitality across Shelby. Every day over 14,000 people commute to Shelby for work, 2,147 live and also work in the city limits, while 7,222 leave Shelby to go to work. Almost twice as many enter than exit Shelby on a daily basis for work (based on 2026 data).
“These number indicate Shelby as the economic engine of Cleveland County,” Bostic said as she presented more data consisting of median household income, a 32% increase in retail sales over the past five years, which she noted is three times that of Cleveland County alone and almost twice that of the entire State averages across North Carolina and the nation (according to Bostic’s presentation).
Shelby generates almost 60% of Cleveland County’s annual retail sales but only accounts for less than 22% of Cleveland County’s total population. It was also stated that Shelby sees 2,400,000 visitors on an annual basis. It was not stated if these visitors include residents of Cleveland County in this data or from only outside the county.
The ‘walkability score’ also improved from last year, dominating Forest city and Belmont in comparison. Shelby scored a 77 in 'very walkable' compared to a score of 70 for Belmont and 60 for Forest City.
“Uptown Shelby is something we are all very proud of,” noted Mayor Anthony. “Appreciate all the hard work.”
In other business, a resolution and order permanently closing a portion of Bowman Street which is just the southern portion that remains after the other section was closed some time ago. The portion under consideration runs south of the Board of Elections to W Warren Street. After City Council Member Violet Arth made the motion, Council Member Dave White noted for the record, “I feel like it was done wrong and kind of got the cart in front of the horse; that’s all I’m going to say.”
City Council Member Dr. Charles Webber added, “I agree with Mr. White, but after hearing and being aware of all the things that have already occurred, I support the recommendation.”
“And I voiced my opinion that I was totally against that,” Added Council Member Anthony Hopper. “But it was after the fact - We shouldn’t have done that but it’s water over the dam, but they are going to see the problems as the result of that later on, but that’s why I’m against it.”
The resolution passed 4-1 with Hopper against.
The council moved onto the consent agenda where several items needed approval. There was a resolution authorizing the sale of City of Shelby owned real property identified by parcel number 26514 through the upset bid procedure of N. C. General Statute § 160A-269: Resolution No. 39-2026; Storm Helene FEMA Grant Project Budget Amendments; adoption of a budget ordinance amendment for the City of Shelby’s Storm Helene FEMA Grant Project: Ordinance No. 25-2026; adoption of a budget ordinance amendment for the City of Shelby’s Wease Sewer Aerial Replacement Project: Ordinance No. 26-2026; adoption of a budget ordinance amendment for the City of Shelby’s Foothills Commerce Center Sidewalk Project: Ordinance No. 27-2026; adoption of FY 2025-2026 Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 11: Ordinance No. 28-2026; adoption of FY 2025-2026 Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 12: 93 – 97 Ordinance No. 29-2026 and a special event application for Pinnacle Classical Academy’s Homecoming Parade with a requested date of Dec. 4, 2026.
Also, a notice of cancellation of regular Shelby City Council meeting slated for July 6 was approved and a resolution and order to accept adding women coaches and officials to the Cleveland County Basketball Wall of Fame Memorial at the Holly Oak Park Gymnasium: Resolution No. 41-2026.
In unfinished city business, Ben Yarboro presented an update on the City of Shelby’s Electric Substation 11 Circuit 11-2 Project which involves a new electric circuit from substation 11 to PPG Aerospace coatings plant located on Randolph Road. Yarboro said construction is to begin this fall and is expected to be online by 2027. Items needed for the project include 60,000 feet of aluminum overhead wire, 64 poles and crossarms, insulators, switches, hardware such as clamps, anchors, bolts and other material, and transformers and streetlights. The material cost estimate is $700,000 which will come from the electric fund balance. Yarboro said this is step two of three in the project.
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Yarboro also presented the South Lafayette Street Waterline Replacement Project. He provided updates, stating the project will replace an old early 1900’s cast iron line that runs down South Lafayette Street. The area of replacement begins approximately at Broad Street and continues down to Morton Street. Stantec was selected for design services in January of this year.
Due to wording in the contract requirements, the bidding had to be rejected. There will be a second bid opening to take bids. Yarboro said timing is important because NCDOT is expected to repave South Lafayette and cooperation has been made with DOT to replace the water line before paving begins. A specific date has not been given for the repaving and will wait until the completion of the water line replacement. The resolution passed unanimously.
During the City Manager’s report, City manager Justin Merritt provided an update on the Webbley House preservation project that remodeling was underway. Portions of the rear of the structure are occurring. Read the original reporting on it from last summer July 1, 2025 here.
“Most of the work has occurred inside the structure, so you don’t see it when you drive by,” noted Merritt. “But they are working and are currently on schedule.”
Merritt stated new America 250 banners have been and are in the process of being placed in Uptown Shelby. The banners were donated by the Cleveland County America 250 Committee. He thanked city workers for putting the banner up across the city.
When asked about the water flow content, Merritt also stated the water level in Shelby has improved even though we are still in a drought. “The flow increases and decreases in those periods,” he explained, “but right now we feel we are in a sustainable period.”
In closing remarks the discussion of A.I. in use of city promotional graphics was brought up by Arth. The topic was discussed and whether or not the city had a policy on such use for official city communications using A.I. generated material. This will be looked into and reported back at a later time. Council then went into closed session with the city attorney regarding a legal issue covered by attorney - client privilege.
The July 6, 2026 regularly scheduled meeting has been canceled.
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Chuck Thompson is a reporter and columnist for The Shelby Independent.
The Shelby Independent.
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