SHELBY - Shelby Village Council’s Aug. 11 meeting agenda included presentations from Brickley DeLong with the village’s annual audit report and a Shelby Gap Analysis Report from Village Administrator Phil Morse. There were also four approvals, including first quarter budget amendments, a chip and fog sealing bid for First Street, the Getty Field Reset's August 2026 Letter of Understanding (LOU) and Getty Field Partial Fence Replacement. During the Personnel Committee’s report, the council went into closed session for Morse’s annual performance review.
The main resolutions and topics of discussion on Aug. 11 were related to Getty Field, the soccer field that sits directly east of Getty Park. The land the field sits on and two of the field’s assets, the bleachers and the irrigation system, are owned by the village. The Tiger Building is owned by the school district, which shares use and access with the village. All other assets - the press box, concession stand, lighting infrastructure, and scoreboard — are owned by the school district.
Because the physical structures are near the end of their useful life, the Village of Shelby Parks and Recreation Committee and the Shelby Public Schools Athletic Committee have been meeting to discuss the best way forward. Drawing from both entities' Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA - signed in 2019), a Getty Field Reset Project's Summer 2026 LOU draft had been prepared and was presented to council at their Aug. 10 meeting.
“The (draft) letter of understanding outlines who’s in charge of what,” Morse said. “The original IGA is still in place. This LOU doesn’t affect that.”
In brief, the LOU states Shelby Public Schools would be responsible for the removal and disposal of the existing athletic field lighting system and scoreboard, at an estimated cost of $3,800. In addition the school would assume responsibility for the demo and removal or restoration of the historic “Tiger Building.” The cost for this work is estimated at $5,300. If the school decides to retain the building, the LOU outlines the requirements for keeping it.
The Village of Shelby would be responsible for removing and disposing of the existing press box, concession stand and all associated concrete footings and pads at an estimated cost of $1,800, as well as the existing bleachers at an estimated cost of $500.
The village would be responsible for the cost of moving the existing western fence line approximately 50 feet to the east, at a cost of $12,516. The new portion of fence, approximately 525 linear feet, will include a four-foot-high black fence with one ten-foot-wide access gate.
Village employees would be responsible for restoring the areas disturbed by the above-mentioned activities and capping the water and sewer service at an approximate cost of $1,500. The village would then convert their existing irrigation control system to a solar-powered system at an approximate cost of $2,000.
Council member Crystal Heykoop offered her comments at the outset, “The fencing costs a lot to not own it at the end. Moving the fence benefits the village more than the school. Should we adjust the IGA? I like the idea of a fence and moving it for parking, but not, not owning it.”
“For the school, fence ownership is important,” Morse replied.
“The issue is, do we want to pay $12,000 to improve parking at the park,” said council member Mike Termer.
“It would be difficult for me at home to buy a fence for the neighbors,” Heykoop added.
In discussing the demolition costs related to the Getty Park reset, Morse told council the removal quote for the concession stand and press box was a “great deal." He requested a decision that night due to the fact that the demolition company would be in the area in September.
“We have an opportunity, at a low cost, to reset Getty Field,” Morse said before the vote.
In a 5 to 2 vote, the resolution to approve the LOU, with its related costs and parameters, between the Village of Shelby and Shelby Public Schools passed. Voting in favor were council members Samantha Gottschalk, who made the original motion; Steve Crothers, who seconded the motion; as well as Curt Trott, Dan Zaverl and Village President John Sutton. Voting in opposition to the resolution were Heykoop and Termer.
Following the approval of the LOU resolution, with a motion from Crothers and Gottschalk’s support, council voted 4 to 3 to award the bid for new fencing at Getty Field to the low bidder and only fence company from Oceana County to submit a bid, Great Lakes Pet Fencing, in the amount of $12,516. Voting in favor were Crothers, Gottschalk, Trott and Sutton. Voting against the approval were Heykoop, Termer and Zaverl.
The $3,541.63 for the village’s portion of demolition and restoration at Getty Field will be covered in part by $2,500 from the following village funds: Parks-Beautification, Parks-Building & Yards Improvement and Parks-Contractual Services. The $12,516 for the new fence would come out of the village FY27-28 budget. The work outlined in the new LOU is set to be completed by the spring of 2027.
Further reports on the remaining business to come before the council on Aug. 11 will be available in an upcoming edition of the Oceana Echo. Until then, meeting packets are available on the village website, www.shelbyvillage.com under the Government tab.
