Commissioners

The Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KRS 344.310) authorizes Kentucky cities and counties to create a human rights commission to provide for execution within its jurisdiction of the policies embodied in the Kentucky Civil Rights Act and the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 241); and to safeguard all individuals within its jurisdiction from discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or age (40 and over), disability and familial status and pregnancy. 

The City of Shelbyville, the City of Simpsonville and Shelby County governments created the Shelbyville, Simpsonville and Shelby County Commission on Human Rights in 2009. 

Click here to read the ordinance. 

The Commission’s charge is to promote and secure mutual understanding and respect among all economic, social, religious, ethnic and racial groups in the two cities and the county and to foster an environment where citizens in the county can thrive and reach their full potential. 

The ordinances, by reference to Kentucky’s Civil Rights Act, give the Commission the power and enforcement authority to prohibit discrimination in the two cities and the county. The Commission also enforces the U.S. Civil Rights Act through its affiliation with federal government agencies such as the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The Commission has 11 Commissioners. Four are appointed by the Mayor of the City of Shelbyville, two are appointed by the Mayor of the City of Simpsonville and five are appointed by the Shelby County Judge-Executive. Commissioners are volunteers and members of the communities they serve.

The Commissioners are committed to protecting and to furthering civil rights for every person in Shelby County. These are current Commissioners: 

Liza Ariza, representing the City of Shelbyville (two terms, 2016 to 2024) 

Alvin Farris, representing the City of Shelbyville  (two terms, 2015 to 2023) 

Faun Fishback, representing the City of Shelbyville (two terms, 2017 to 2025)

Mannie Stone, representing the City of Shelbyville (term 2023 to 2026)

Michelle Isenberg, representing the City of Simpsonville 

(filling an unexpired term until March 2024)

Dana Presley, representing the City of Simpsonville (term 2023 to 2025)

Norris Beckley, representing Shelby County, (three terms 2016 to 2026) 

Doug Welch, representing Shelby County (term 2021 to 2025)

The Commission meets the first Monday of each month, unless is it is holiday. If the first Monday of the month is a holiday, the meeting will be held the second Monday of the month. (See meeting dates below for the Commission's 2022-2023 schedules.)

Meetings begin at 6 p.m.

The Commission meets at the Stratton Center. The Stratton Center is located at 215 Washington Street, Shelbyville, KY 40065.

2023 Commission Meeting Dates

January 9

February 6

March 6

April 3

May 1

June 5

July 10

August 14

September 11

October 2

November 13

December 4

If you are interested in serving on the Commission or helping with its outreach activities, please contact the Shelbyville, Simpsonville and Shelby County Commission on Human Rights

by mail at P.O. Box 174, Shelbyville, KY 40066 or by email at info@scchr-ky.org.