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Erica Techo
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Erica Techo
Chelsea High School's Out of the Blue Show Choir performs at the March 20, 2018 Chelsea City Council meeting. The group performed three songs for the council and members of the community who were in attendance.
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Erica Techo
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Erica Techo
Chelsea High School's Out of the Blue Show Choir performs at the March 20, 2018 Chelsea City Council meeting. The group performed three songs for the council and members of the community who were in attendance.
The city of Chelsea voted to take an additional step toward evaluating the possibility of a city sewer system during its latest meeting.
At its March 20 meeting, the Chelsea City Council voted to approve a resolution to contract with In-Site Engineering for an appraisal of wastewater and sanitary sewer assets in the city of Chelsea, which are currently operated by Double Oak Water Reclamation. The contract is in the amount of $75,000.
Councilman Scott Weygand read the resolution before the council, which noted that the city wishes to “continue pursuing the possibility of owning and operating its own sewer system.”
The council formerly voted in December to allow Mayor Tony Picklesimer to hire consultants to investigate the possibility of establishing a city sewer service. According to the resolution, the appraisal of the Double Oak Water Reclamation sewer system is a “necessary step” toward the city acquiring that utility “through condemnation or negotiation.”
The appraisal will include parts of the sewer system within and outside of the city limits.
The council voted unanimously in favor of the resolution. Councilman David Ingram was not present for the vote.
The council also heard an audit report from DeLoach, Barber and Caspers P.C. Wayne Barber briefly went over the city’s finances, telling the council that the city’s net worth is around $23 million. Most of that worth is tied up in buildings and other assets, he said, adding that that is the case for most large organizations. The city’s “liquid net worth” is around $2 million.
Barber’s report also covered changes in net position.
“This is what we consider to be the bottom line,” Barber said, noting it is how the city operated in the last fiscal year.
The city operated at a profit of $2,854,044, Barber said.
“As far as number wise, I don’t see a whole lot of things people can complain about for you,” Barber said.
After the presentation, the mayor brought up a question he had asked Barber. As the city looks at preparing its multi-year capital project budget, which includes “a sizeable number of projects,” Picklesimer had asked if the city could afford several projects.
“Absolutely,” Barber said, citing the fact that the city’s sales tax base is continuing to grow. “… You certainly could take on more debt if you wanted to.”
Council member David Ingram also asked about the tax abatement the city had with Publix, which Barber said would expire at the end of this fiscal year. While that might affect the sales tax the city receives, Barber said, it will be offset when the city’s agreement with Shelby County regarding tap fees expires in two years.
During the meeting, the council voted to approve the 2017 audit report.
Also at the meeting, the council:
- Saw a performance from Chelsea High School’s Out of the Blue Choir.
- Declared April 25 as “Bubbles of Love Day,” which is a part of Parental Alienation Awareness week in the city of Chelsea.
- Approved an ordinance to adjust the city’s lodging tax from 2 to 3 percent. The ordinance will “get us in step with others” in regard to lodging tax, Picklesimer said. Prior to considering it, the council voted to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of the ordinance.
- Approved a resolution to establish new public posting places. The locations include the new Chelsea library location on U.S. 280 and the Chelsea Community Center, as well as the post office and Chelsea City Hall.
- Approved a resolution to authorize the mayor to sign and addendum to the agreement between Bellsouth (doing business as AT&T) and the city.
- Voted to pay the city’s bills.
- Went into executive session regarding purchasing, selling or negotiating contracts.
