“Shelby is home. When you come back you get a feeling that is indescribable because you know you are in a community where everyone genuinely cares about one another,” said Mayor Marilyn John. The residents of Shelby can relate to the mayor’s view of the tight knit community. Like many who live in Shelby, she was born and raised in the city. She is currently serving her second term as mayor after taking office in January of 2010. Her desire is to make sure that Shelby is growing and developing, despite the unique challenges posed by its geography.
An issue that the city faces is the constant worry of flooding. Shelby is located in a flood zone because of the Black Fork River running directly through the town. Local businesses in downtown Shelby have taken quite a number of hits in the last few years because of flooding hazards. John has made it her goal to protect businesses in the case of natural disasters. “These businesses take a hard hit when flooding occurs, and it can get quite expensive to make the repairs. We want to help them in any way we can because we need our local businesses to continue prospering.” One the city’s first efforts toward that end was establishing a method for collecting and acting upon accurate data.
The mayor reached out to the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) and this has led to preparations for flood assistance. The Black Fork River has its very own sub-district that was created in 1970, and it was recently reactivated in the past couple years to allow members of the community to note the amount of rain that is accumulated during heavy rain fall.
As part of the conservancy district, Shelby businesses have access to flooding data. On the city website, www.shelbyohio.org, businesses can set up parameters that measure the amount of rain that has fallen and track the height of the river. Businesses that are in the heart of the flood zone can take actions like moving equipment and goods if flooding is imminent. The information online is available to local residents as well as businesses.
Though Shelby has had its challenges, the city has also seen growth. The city bounced back from the multiple flooding disasters and has grown economically. Seven new businesses have opened since November and downtown parking is an issue.
“Parking has become an issue, but I am more than happy to have this problem because that means businesses are booming and that is what I want to see,” she said.
Residents passed a school levy that provided for construction of a new high school and a new police department is under construction. Other city improvements include assistance from the Richland Community Development Group for a “Beautification of Downtown.” The project provided funds to paint light poles, add globes for street lights, plant trees and flowers, and purchase new banners on the light poles. Community members provided the manpower. The banners for the light poles were designed by a local business, Lantz Star Graphics, LTD.
The mayor said she enjoys being engaged with residents, both professionally and personally, and participating in local events like Shelby’s Bicycle Days Festival.
For more information about Shelby, call 419-347-5131 or visit the community website at www.shelbyohio.org.