Board of Works addresses state of Methodist Building with current owner

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 5:23 PM

In an effort to get questions answered about the state of the Methodist Building in downtown Shelbyville, the Board of Works requested building owner Ron Kelsay appear at Tuesday morning’s meeting at City Hall.

Graffiti on the building, the largest structure in downtown Shelbyville, trash accumulation and broken windows were points of discussion with Kelsay, the current owner of the vacant building.

“We’ve continued to work to do some redevelopment and we are not there yet,” said Kelsay when asked by Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson if he could maintain the building so it looks better.

Furgeson stated he had a meeting with Kelsay in January to discuss the Methodist Building. Kelsay stated Tuesday morning he is still trying to redevelop the building rather than sell it to another owner.

Kelsay expressed his own frustration that the redevelopment process has not moved quicker. He admitted there are windows boarded up after some were removed to help with demolition of some of the interior of the building. There are others that have been recently broken by vandals.

“To make it look nicer, I have a contractor that I am waiting to show up and take the wood out so it doesn’t visibly look distasteful and they will repair those with plexiglass,” said Kelsay.

Kelsay believes the building is safe and secure.

“It is my responsibility to maintain the building,” agreed Kelsay when asked by Furgeson, who is one of three members of the city’s Board of Works and Public Safety. “It’s a vacant building. … I am trying to not make it a vacant building but it is a long, challenging process that sometimes goes quick and sometimes it just takes longer.”