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Chelsea adds deputy fire chief, extends partnership with Compact 2020

by

Leah Ingram Eagle

Joe Lee was named the new Deputy Fire Chief during the July 7 Chelsea City Council meeting. 

Fire Chief Wayne Shirley said that as the community continues to grow, their department has to grow with it. There have been plans for a while to grow the department’s administrative staff, and Lee’s position was approved by the council during Tuesday's meeting. 

“The position was available and the timing worked out great,” Shirley said. 

Lee retired as a lieutenant from the Bessemer Fire Department in 2017 after 25 years. He began working with Chelsea in 2015, filling in whatever position he was needed. He, along with his three children, graduated from Chelsea High School. 

“I’m thankful for the opportunity and will do my best to keep things going and plan for the future,” Lee said.  

Clay Hammac, executive director of Compact 2020 was in attendance at the pre-council meeting and thanked the mayor and council for their leadership and devotion to Compact 2020 and their mission for the past four years and their continued support. 

Leah Ingram Eagle

The program works to identify students at risk for drug abuse and addiction and meet with the family and the students to provide resources to help get them back on track. Since the program’s inception, over 650 at-risk students have been identified across the county. 

“We’ve been able to meet with students and their families,” Hammac said. “The point is to let parents know what we know. It’s not for the purpose of enforcement action, but to save lives. It wasn't even a year ago the county coroner made a statement that juvenile overdose incidents are down since the inception of Compact 2020.”

Since his assignment to Chelsea as investigator, Deputy Matt Glassford has assisted in identifying at least 40 Chelsea specific students and meeting with families. He has also presented to over 3,500 students in Chelsea. 

“He is a superstar, has a servant’s heart and compassion for Compact 2020 has served the community of Chelsea well,” Hammac said.  

This partnership is a new frontier in law enforcement, foraging a path in law enforcement that doesn't exist anywhere else in the country,” Hammac said. “We are coming to local communities once again four years later. Now in 2020 we want to say we have been successful and we want to earn your trust to move forward with the memorandum of our agreement to move forward with the 2020 initiative.” 

The council unanimously agreed to approve the resolution for the city of Chelsea to continue its participation in Compact 2020 and the mayor and mayor pro tempore signed the memorandum of understanding. 

Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego was also in attendance to support Compact 2020. He thanked the city of Chelsea for supporting it.

“It’s quite a worthwhile effort these men and women do from day to day and we are very proud of them,” he said. 

Samaniego also announced plans to add a second School Resource Officer (SRO) at Chelsea Middle School when school starts. 

“It has been a worrisome thing for me with the school being that big with that many students and only having one SRO, so we will have another SRO there when school starts.”

“The sheriff’s department has allocated another person for that responsibility and did so in the perimeters of the existing contract and we are grateful for their support,” Picklesimer said.

In his mayor’s report, Picklesimer said that construction of the traffic signal at Hwy. 39 and U.S. 280 is underway. The project is a 50/50 partnership with ALDOT and it should be completed by the end of the month. 

He added that he anticipates a reduction in the speed limit on the westbound side and the eastern most entrance to Publix shopping center will become a right in, right out turn only. 

Mayor Picklesimer also announced future plans for the Park and Recreation Department to  have two two-person teams, one will take care of Hwy. 39 and Hwy. 47 complexes and the other to take care of Phases one and two at the Hwy 11 Sports Complex. 

Other resolutions approved during the meeting include: 

Tuesday began the qualification process for those who are participating in the upcoming Aug. 25 election. Three incumbents, Cody Sumners, Scott Weygand and Chris Grace all qualified for their seats, along with Mayor Picklesimer. Qualifying runs through July 21. 

Important dates

The next Chelsea City Council meeting will be July 21 at 6 p.m. at Chelsea City Hall. 

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