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Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer (left) with Kenneth Paschal of the American Family Rights Association during the Sept. 5, 2017 Chelsea City Council meeting.
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Chelsea Library Director Dana Polk presents the Chelsea City Council with furnishing options for the new library.
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Lt. Taylor Gunnells (right) with Chelsea Fire and Rescue during the Sept. 5, 2017 Chelsea City Council meeting. Gunnells was promoted to lieutenant and recognized during the meeting at Chelsea City Hall.
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Chelsea Firefighter Josh Sims (center) druing a pinning ceremony at the Chelsea City Council meeting on Sept. 5, 2017. Chief Wayne Shirley (right) welcomed Sims to the department.
The theme of the first Chelsea City Council meeting of the month was moving projects forward.
The Council discussed a variety of projects at the Sept. 5 meeting, heard a presentation and voted to accept multiple bids.
During pre-council, Chelsea Library Director Dana Polk showed the Council photos and samples of furnishings for the library’s new building. The library will move into the old Renasant Bank building on U.S. 280, which will be renovated and is a much larger space.
The color scheme for part of the library included more muted colors, but Polk also showed bright, welcoming colors for the kids’ area of the library, “just to let them know this is a fun place, and this is their place,” Polk said.
In addition to new fixtures, Polk said they plan to reuse as much as they can from the old building. The majority of shelving will be reused. The cost of the new furniture would be around $109,000, Polk said, and needs to be ordered sooner rather than later. It would take between 12-15 weeks to get, she said, because it would be custom.
“Library furniture is expensive because it’s meant to last,” she said. Some of the chairs could be expected to last several decades.
Mayor Tony Picklesimer asked the Council to look over packets Polk had presented, as the approval of the purchases could come before them in two weeks.
Also during pre-council, Picklesimer noted a resolution for a road project on Cupid’s Lane. The resolution to approve the bid for the project came before the Council after several months, as they had started working on it in November, Picklesimer said.
“This is keeping a promise,” he said.
The Council voted unanimously to approve the bid, which was awarded to Central Alabama Asphalt and Construction Company in the amount of $49,900.
Other bids that came before the Council included one for the installation of signs for the new Chelsea Sports Complex on County Road 11 and for the playground project on the property adjacent to Chelsea City Hall.
The bid for the sign was from Reliable Sign Services in the amount of $49,990, and the bid for the playground was from Shirley Brothers Excavating in the amount of $41,019.16. Picklesimer said the bid includes some demolition in the area to hopefully create a place for a gazebo.
"We've been working on these projects for months. They just happened to all come together tonight," Picklesimer said.
Other business included:
- Chelsea Fire Chief Wayne Shirley recognized two firefighters. One new hire, firefighter Josh Sims, was recognized for becoming a part of the fire department family. Fireman Taylor Gunnells was also recognized and promoted to Lieutenant.
- The Council approved a rezoning request for a 37-acre property on County Road 36. The property, owned by James Phillips for D.R. Horton, was rezoned from agricultural-residential to residential.
- The Council approved a resolution to establish Chelsea Zoning Verification Fees. While some cities have property taxes to offset the labor cost in the zoning process, Picklesimer said Chelsea did not have those taxes, which led to a need for the fees.
- The Council approved a resolution to continue a partnership with ClasTran to provide transportation for elderly, disabled and rural citizens.
- The Council approved a resolution to appoint and re-appoint Library Board Members.
- The Council approved an ordinance to accept the amended Chelsea Planning and Zoning ordinance. A six-month moratorium was put in place in April after an error was discovered in the city’s zoning code. These amendments corrected those errors.
- The Council approved to pay the city’s bills.
- A proclamation declaring Sept. 25, 2017 as Family Day and the week of Sept. 24-30 as Family Week in the city of Chelsea was accepted.
The Chelsea City Council will meet for a specially called council meeting on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 5 p.m.
