Council Ratifies Mayor’s Contract with Developer

    In July Mayor Shelton signed a contract with a private developer to build a road to provide an entrance needed by the newly approved Shoe Creek development.  In exchange, Mayor Shelton agreed to require Central's taxpayers to accept private streets as public and to maintain those streets forever.
    At Tuesday's meeting the City Council voted 4-0 to unanimously to ratify (validate) Mayor Shelton's contract with the developer to provide the second entrance for the Shoe Creek TND. Hours after signing the agreement, Mayor Shelton sent an email informing the Council of the contract, stating, "This should put to rest connection issues for the TND."
    The Mayor's signing of that contract without the prior approval of the City Council is a part of the basis for a lawsuit brought by three Central citizens.  The citizens are trying to stop the Shoe Creek development from building almost 700 homes, including 250 apartments, in what they maintain is a violation of Central's Zoning laws.
    Central's City Attorney, Jennifer Simms, addressing the reason for the ratification vote by the Council, stated, "We do not believe it is necessary, but there is pending litigation regarding these issues and so as to make those issues moot, that is the reason that this is before the Council today."
    Council Member Vance, who sponsored the ordinance to ratify the Mayor's action, has stated that the ordinance "…is solely to remove the issue from litigation."