2016-2020 Chelsea mayor and council take oaths of office

The City of Chelsea officially has a new mayor and council. While Chelsea's 2016-2020 council members were elected on Aug. 23 and its new mayor was elected on Oct. 4, they did not officially take office until Nov. 7.

On Nov. 7, Shelby County Probate Judge Jim Fuhrmeister conducted the swearing in ceremony for the new city officials. Fuhrmeister and his late wife have conducted all swearing in ceremonies for the city since its founding in 1996. 

While the Nov. 8 presidential election has many concerned about the state of disconnect between national politics and the day-to-day life of a citizen, Fuhrmeister said that disconnect is not something which will be present between the mayor and council and the city of Chelsea.

"The thing about municipal government is these folks basically volunteer their time, and you're going to see them at the regular council meetings when you're here to voice your opinion on a subject, but you're going to see them at the grocery store, you're going to see them on the ball fields, you're going to see them in the churches, you're going to see them on the streets," Fuhrmeister said. Those who take municipal office will be connected with their communities and listen to concerns, Fuhrmeister said, but they also give up family time and privacy to serve their communities.

Chelsea's new council includes Cody Sumners, Scott Weygand, David Ingram, Tiffany Bittner and Casey Morris. The new mayor is Tony Picklesimer. After each took their oath of office, Fuhrmeister presented the council to those in attendance.

"Ladies and gentlemen, that is your new mayor and council," he said. "They need your support. They need your prayers."

During an organizational council meeting following the swearing in ceremony, the council elected David Ingram as Mayor Pro Tempore, passed resolutions regarding municipal funds, duties and salaries of municipal employees and reappointing Becky Landers as city clerk, Lori King as city treasurer, Wayne Shirley as chief of the Chelsea Fire and Rescue Department and appointing Mark Boardman as city attorney. 

The council also approved resolutions to authorize city officials to execute financial documents and to appoint Cole Williams and Matt Lyons to the city's planning commission.

Ordinances were accepted and public hearings were held regarding two rezoning requests. The council approved the rezoning of a property off of Highway 11 which will be used for "The Highlands of Chelsea" subdivision and a property behind Publix which will be rezoned to general business.

The next council meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m.