SHELBY — Shelby lawmakers are ready to take a closer look at the city’s iconic smokestack.
On Monday evening, At-large Councilman Steve McLaughlin briefed Shelby City Council on the city’s two options regarding the future of the 190-foot structure.
The first option would be to demolish the smokestack. McLaughlin said the two most recent demolition quotes came in at $310,000 in 2021 and $500,000 in 2023.
If the smokestack were to be demolished, the city’s utilities antenna would need to be relocated. The antenna is mounted to the railing of the structure’s 150-foot platform and the repeater is stationed inside the light plant.
Option two would be to repurpose the structure to be a decorative landmark.
If this route becomes the choice, work would include capping the top of the smokestack and weatherproofing the structure to prevent the freezing and dulling effect, he said.
A specialized technique would also be used to repair mortar joints in the areas where brickwork needs the most attention.
McLaughlin said paint and/or lighting could also be added to the smokestack.
The city contacted two chimney/smokestack companies to seek quotes for inspection of the interior and exterior of the structure.
One company quoted the city $30,000 to physically inspect the smokestack, McLaughlin said. The other business, which uses an FAA registered drone pilot and drone, estimated a cost of about $10,000.
“The repurposing of the stack would provide community identity (and) preserve our history, but it comes at an expense and (is) an ongoing expense to maintain,” he said.
“The recommendation for the next step is to contract with the company to inspect the structure using the drone inspection method, which is cheaper, to give us an idea of the integrity of the structure.”
