Chelsea City Council approves advertising bids for sports complex

The Chelsea City Council voted to advertise bids for the Chelsea Sports Complex at its Tuesday, Aug. 4 meeting.

The Council has worked on the plans for the complex since last year and hopes to have it open in time for next year’s baseball season.

In pre-council, Mayor Earl Niven said even though the plans might need minor changes in the future, waiting any longer to obtain bids would delay the park’s opening.

“It might not be 100 percent how we want it, but let’s go on and get it done,” Niven said.

City engineer Frank Spencer said he submitted the plans, including three baseball fields and dugouts, to the county this week and plans to submit the electrical circuit bid by Friday.

“At that point, I’m comfortable enough to start advertising bids because if we get any comments back from Shelby County, we can address it by addendum,” Spencer said.

The plans will be advertised for bid by next week, and Spencer said bids should be received in August.

“That will be our main components and let us see how it fits with our budget,” Spencer said.

The next step is submitting a plan for the concession stand and press box, which will have a more difficult review process due to the food prepping stations. This structure will be between the three baseball fields and includes a concession stand as well as a men’s, women’s and family restroom on the first floor. The second floor includes three press box areas, a meeting room, a mechanical room and a lounge for umpires.

In addition to presenting the plans discussed in former meetings, there was conversation regarding an alteration to the parking lot in order to allow for easier field access for a maintenance shed. The council also asked for other changes to the plan, including lighting in batting cages and reconsideration on netting around the fields.

The council unanimously voted to advertise bids for the current plans.

“It’s exciting, and y’all have done a great job,” Niven said.

The council also approved a resolution to purchase furnishings for the Chelsea Community Center. The furnishings include 224 chairs, 24 round 60-inch tables, 10 eight-foot tables, carts to transport the furnishings and a few square card tables. Niven said the community center is “98 percent complete,” and a few finishing touches are holding up the project.