City councilman retires, Mayor appoints new member

SHELLEY — After spending nearly 12 years serving the people of Shelley, a city councilman is retiring to spend more time with his grandchildren.

City Council Chairman Earl Beattie officially resigned from his position on the council at the Aug. 10 Shelley City Council meeting. His resignation came just five months before the end of his term.

“I feel really humbled and honored to serve the citizens of Shelley. And serve with this group here,” Beattie said during the council meeting. “These are some of the best people I’ve ever worked with.

Beattie first ran for city council against Steve Cedarberg in 2008, beating the long-time council member. He was sworn into office in January of 2009. He ran again for the seat in 2012 against Heather Goodworth, winning by a narrow margin. In 2016, he ran unopposed.

“I do want to say, I appreciate working with Earl. For the time that I’ve worked with him, he’s been great to work with,” Mayor Stacey Pascoe said at the council meeting. “He’s been over police. He’s been over City Hall. And I couldn’t ask for a better person to cover when I’m gone.”

While on the council, Beattie served eleven years as police commissioner and six months as the councilmember over City Hall.

“He was always helpful and willing to serve,†Pascoe said in a previous interview. “He has also put a lot into the Senior Citizens Center and the City as well. I think a lot of people should appreciate him for all his efforts in that regard.â€

Beattie’s service to the community has not just been on the council. For years, he has been an advocate and volunteer for the Shelley Senior Citizen Center. As he’s worked as an advocate for the senior center, it has been renovated, upgraded and expanded to become an emergency shelter for the city. Beattie helped make those improvements a reality.

He also served as a law enforcement officer for many years prior to opening Beattie Enterprises, a pawn shop on Center St. Earlier this year, he sold his business and closed its doors.

“Earl, we’ll miss you. You’re a good man and you’ve always wanted the best for Shelley, no matter what. And you’ve been a good example to me,” Councilwoman Kim Westergard said during the meeting.

With five months remaining in Beattie’s four-year term, it fell to the mayor to appoint someone to fill Beattie’s vacant council seat.

“I’ve had a few people approach me and want to be appointed. To be honest with you, I have read a few resumes and I have thought a lot about it and I have decided to appoint Jeff Kelley,” Pascoe said at the City Council meeting.

Kelley previously served as a Shelley City Councilman from 2012 to January 2018. During that time Kelley presided over Parks and Recreation and Public Works.

In November 2019, he was appointed to the Shelley Sewer board. In May 2020, Kelley was appointed to the Planning and Zoning board. He is currently still serving on both boards.

“The reason why is, after Jeff got off the council, I asked him to be on the sewer board. Our sewer is such a mess and we’ve got to get a handle on it or it’s going to eat us alive,” Pascoe said about his reasoning for appointing Kelley back to the City Council.

Pascoe said during Kelley’s time on the sewer board, he has done a good job getting Shelley, the City of Ammon and Bingham County on the same page and working together.

“I appreciate all the effort that he put into that. Some people would have gone halfway. Jeff always goes 110 percent,” Pascoe said.

The City Council will officially appoint Kelley to council at the Aug. 24 City Council meeting.

He will have to run for election in November.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jeff Kelley is a founder and co-owner of the Community Pioneer. Click here to read his statement regarding his relationship with Community Pioneer and the City Council going forward.