The fate of the historic 116-year-old Chautauqua Auditorium in Shelbyville’s Forest Park may eventually include demolition, according to discussion during the May 6 Shelbyville City Council meeting.
The auditorium has been owned by the city of Shelbyville since 1932, and structural problems within the aging building that began intensifying in the early 2000’s have never been resolved, it was noted during the May 6 city council meeting.
Shelbyville Mayor Jeff Johnson stressed that no definite decision has been made to demolish the building, and that cost estimates need to be established for both the scenarios of making repairs to the building or demolishing the structure.
A decision likely will not be made until an engineering company can provide definitive demolition versus repair cost estimates.
The round building is a unique and historic structure that includes sculptures by the long-deceased and internationally-known artist Robert Root, who was a Shelbyville native.
In other matters during the May 6 council meeting, the oath of office was given by recently re-elected Mayor Jeff Johnson and Commissioner of Streets and Public Improvement Thom Schafer.
The council approved a request for the annual Shelbyville High School Homecoming parade that is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26. The parade will begin at Main Street School, traveling northbound on North Morgan from North First Street to North Sixth Street, and from there westbound and concluding at Shelbyville High School.
In other matters, the council members approved a request for repair of a chlorine feed station at the P&H Lift Station for EPA compliance.
Council members also urged caution by motorists during on-going street repair initiated this week by the State of Illinois in various sections of Shelbyville, such as the intersection of Cedar and Main streets..
Also Monday evening, the council approved use of credit cards as payment for purchases involved with various city departments, such as the Forest Park swimming pool that will open soon for the summer season.
The council also:
-approved all liquor license renewal applications.
-approved all general license renewal applications.
-approved release of Executive Session minutes for public inspection.
The Shelbyville city council meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month.
