SHELBY — The Shelby First United Methodist Church is celebrating its bicentennial this year.
Located at 18 S. Gamble St. near the city’s downtown, the large brick building is part of the Ohio Historic Inventory — which was created in 1973 and lists more than 100,000 architectural properties, according to Ohio History Connection.
The church was added to the inventory more than 40 years ago at some point during the 1980s, Shelby historian Christina Drain told city lawmakers Monday evening.
Drain said it’s the church’s intent to someday pursue being added to the National Register of Historic Places. In the meantime, Shelby City Council took action during its meeting Monday to approve the 200-year-old First United Methodist Church as a local landmark.
Linda Cline, a member of First United Methodist, said Drain played a big role in helping the church through the process of seeking local landmark status.
“We are very excited about out 200th birthday this year,” Cline said to City Council. “We have been celebrating it all year.”
A large celebration took place at the South Gamble Street church back on Oct. 5, which included a keynote speech from Shelby native Joel Hunter, who now preaches in Winter Park, Florida.
Shelby Mayor Steve Schag also delivered a proclamation to First United Methodist back in October, along with the Ohio Methodist Historical Society, Cline said.
“We’ve had a wonderful year. It has been fun researching and working all of that,” she said.
In other action Monday, City Council:
— passed an ordinance to enact a cybersecurity program that is compliant with Ohio Revised Code Section 9.64, enacted through House Bill 96, to help safeguard city data, information technology and information technology resources.
— approved weed assessments (for the cutting and removal of offensive and noxious weeds, vines and grass by the city) to be certified by the clerk of council and sent to the county auditor for inclusion on the tax duplicate for collection.
— authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation relating to LPA Federal Local-Let Project program funding in an amount not to exceed $609,000 or 100 percent of the eligible project costs for the city’s Safe Routes School project.