Starting Nov. 8, government in the city of Chelsea will have plenty of new faces. While the city’s new mayor will not be decided until the runoff election Oct. 4, Chelsea City Council officially has four new members. The sole incumbent is Place 3 councilman David Ingram, who ran for reelection in August and received more than 78 percent of the votes.
Other new council members include Cody Sumners, a lieutenant with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office; Scott Weygand, a local business owner and member of the planning commission; Tiffany Bittner, host of LawCall on Fox6 and a real estate agent; and Casey Morris, manager of Ground Up Coffee and Smoothies in Snider’s Pharmacy.
The new council and mayor will take their oath of office in November, but the members of the 2016-2017 council already have plans for the future.
Place 1: Cody Sumners
Erica Techo
Lt. Cody Sumners is running for Chelsea City Council Place 1. The election for Chelsea mayor and five city council seats is scheduled for Aug. 23.
Q: What is the first issue or issues you would like to work on starting in November?
A: The first issue that I would like to address when I take office would be addressing issues of public safety. I would like to see our contract law enforcement more easily identifiable as a “Chelsea Car” and work to increase the number of law enforcement officers contracted to the city.
Q: What is your No. 1 goal for your council term?
A: My main goal for this council term is to become more knowledgeable of the day-in and day-out runnings of the Chelsea city government, to help determine issues that need to be addressed. To start off with, my main focus will likely be on public safety and public sector employment issues. However, I look forward to becoming more educated on all aspects of city government.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving on Chelsea’s council?
A: I am looking forward to serving the city and people that I live and grew up with. I have lived in Chelsea for over 30 years and have seen a lot of changes during that time. I want to help the city grow responsibly into the future while still maintaining the charm and values that have always made Chelsea a great place to live.
Q: How do you believe the new council will work together?
A: I believe that the newly elected council will work together superbly. You have five people with different backgrounds and great ideas, all working together for one common goal. But above all else, you have a city council with people who love Chelsea and want what is best for the city and the citizens.
Place 2: Scott Weygand
Photo courtesy of Scott Weygand
The election for Chelsea mayor and five city council seats is scheduled for Aug. 23.
Q: What is the first issue or issues you would like to work on starting in November?
A: I think step one will have to be getting a firm understanding of the city’s financial situation and where we stand. An audit of the financials and analysis of the budget will be a great starting point. This will allow us to make any necessary adjustments, financially, so we can start moving forward with the issues that are important to the citizens of Chelsea.
Q: What is your No. 1 goal for your council term?
A: Growing our business community and addressing the safety issues within our city.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving on Chelsea’s city council?
A: I am looking forward to watching this city grow, yet keep its identity, and stay the family friendly community that we all have grown to love.
Q: How do you believe the new council will work together?
A: I think this council is going to be great. Each council person seems to be energized and ready to get to work for the city. We each seem to have a unique skill set that will complement each other while working together.
Q: Any additional comments?
A: I am looking forward to finding out who our next mayor will be so we can start creating a plan to all work together for the betterment of our city.
Place 3: David Ingram
Council Member David Ingram.
Q: What is the first issue or issues you would like to work on starting in November?
A: First and foremost, I hope that we will have completed Phase I of the sports complex and are playing fall baseball games there in the next few weeks. I would really like to see us fast track the addressing of retail development in our city. This is going to be key to success of the city and this council over the next four years. Retail development is key to growing the tax base, providing local jobs, and helps improve the quality of life in the community.
Q: What is your No. 1 goal for your council term?
A: My No. 1 goal is to make all decisions with the best interest of the people of our community in mind. We need to strive to improve the way of life of the citizens in our community. My goal is to be a responsible steward of municipal resources — resources meaning funds, people and facilities. We need to take care of what we have and strive to provide more amenities to our community.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving on Chelsea’s City Council?
A: I am looking forward to continuing the momentum that we have established over the past 4 years. I am looking forward to working to continue to improve our recreational facilities and very much looking forward to what the sports complex is going to bring to the city. I want to start working more closely with the community center personnel in broadening what we are offering there. I am looking forward to working closely with the schools and Board of Education on opportunities to improve our school academic and athletic facilities.
Q: How do you believe the new council will work together?
A: I am very excited about our new city council. I think we will have very effective chemistry on this council as each individual brings a specific expertise to the table. I am very much looking forward to working with each of them.
Place 4: Tiffany Bittner
Photo courtesy of Tiffany Bittner.
Tiffany Bittner is running for Chelsea Council Place 4.
Q: What is the first issue or issues you would like to work on starting in November?
A: The first issue I would like to see the city tackle is looking at the sewage tap-in rates. We need to address what the city’s options are to handling the high cost of tap-in rates for new businesses as well as the rates that residents living in the city limits are paying. Secondly I think the council needs to come up with a comprehensive plan for addressing the traffic congestion at the intersection of highways 47 and 39 in front of City Hall.
Q: What is your No. 1 goal for your council term?
A: There are many goals I have for our city that I would like see come to fruition during my term. Ranging from the previous large scale projects mentioned to smaller ones like sidewalks alongside Highway 47 by Winn-Dixie and new “Welcome to Chelsea” signs on Highway 280. But aside from projects and amenities, I would like to see more people get involved with local government. Our citizens have a lot of community pride and I would like to see the numbers in attendance at council meetings go up. I want to see more residents engaged in the process. I think the city can help foster that through utilizing social media. Communicating to the public what will be on council agendas and sending out emails about current events.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving on Chelsea’s City Council?
A: I’m most looking forward to being a part of a team that cares about our city and is willing to consider progressive ideas and work together to find solutions.
Q: How do you believe the new council will work together?
A: The good news is I already have relationships established with the members of the council. So I think that will help as we all settle into our jobs. I think it’s fair to say we will all be striving to bring the most benefit to Chelsea. I’m humbled by the opportunity of getting to serve our great city and look forward to the days ahead.
Erica Techo
Casey Morris is running for Chelsea City Council Place 5.
Place 5: Casey Morris
Q: What is the first issue or issues you would like to work on starting in November?
A: Having such a large turnover in leadership, I think it is crucial that we quickly develop and grow upon relationships with the county commission and SCBOE. A lot of the projects that have been discussed over the last 3 months will not be able to come to fruition without their partnership.
Q: What is your No. 1 goal for your council term?
A: There are many goals that are essential to making Chelsea the best, but I believe establishing an economic development strategic plan will best serve all plans and ideas for future growth of the city.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about serving on Chelsea’s City Council?
A: Being able to work with the many different organizations and citizens in the city to help make Chelsea the best place to live, work and play.
Q: How do you believe the new council will work together?
A: I think we all have the same passion to make Chelsea the best and we each have unique talents and backgrounds to help make it happen. I think we will all work great together.
Q: Any additional comments?
A: I am excited about the opportunity to serve Chelsea, and thank you so much to everyone who voted for me.
