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Chelsea City Council awards bid for sports complex

by

Erica Techo

The Chelsea City Council took another step toward building the city’s new sports complex at its Nov. 17 meeting.

The council awarded a bid for the sports complex concession stand to Coston General Contractors LLC. The bid was $399,760, and the council unanimously approved the resolution.

“I think this is all the contracts we need, now, to get that complex complete,” said Mayor Earl Niven.

Niven said it is good that Coston had the lowest and best bid because they are also doing work on the fields at the sports complex. This way, it will be easier to coordinate, he said.

At its Sept. 15 meeting, the council approved a bid in the amount of $1.13 million for Phase I of the Chelsea Sports Complex. Phase I included the construction of three baseball fields, batting cages, a 222-spot parking lot and a walking trail around the park. The council also accepted an alternate bid in the amount of $11,500 for a decorative fence at the front of the park and a bid for the lighting and electrical work during Phase I at that meeting. The bid for lighting and electrical work was $348,158.98.

The council hopes to open the sports complex, located off of Highway 11, in time for the next baseball season. Planning for Phase II of the sports complex will likely take place in the second half of 2016.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association also attended the meeting to recognize Chelsea Fire and Rescue firefighters and Chief Wayne Shirley for a successful “Fill the Boot” program in 2015. The fire department has raised $25,000 in the last 15 years. Erin Franklin with the Muscular Dystrophy Association thanked the firefighters and brought them a thank you plaque.

Franklin said that the money raised by the firefighters helps pay for children to go to a summer camp and enjoy themselves without limitations. The cost per child is $800, but Franklin said they provide that at no cost to the families.

“When these guys go out and fill the boot, that is one of the things that they’re working so hard to make possible, so I just want to thank you all,” Franklin said.

During the pre-council meeting, the council discussed a few changes at the Chelsea Community Center, which opened in late October.

“Great progress has been made on the outside of the building thanks to Shelby County and Alex Dudchock,” Niven said.

The county has provided $150,000 through the Shelby County Community Health Fund and another $25,000 for electronics in the center. At this time, they are constructing a sand volleyball court behind the community center and working to construct a grilling patio outside of the senior center and warming kitchen area.

“We’re excited for the sand volleyball for the teenagers [and young adults],” Dudchock said, “…because it’s a great place for them to be and work out some of that anxiety rather than being in someone’s basement.”

Niven said the community center has seen good use, with 80 people coming through on Monday, Nov. 16. He also said several birthday parties, showers and meetings have been booked at the center at this time.                

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