ChMS student heads home this week, city promotes media director
At Tuesday night’s Chelsea City Council meeting, Council member TIffany Bittner shared that Chelsea Middle School student Eli Hairston, who sustained a traumatic brain injury as a result of a golf cart accident on Nov. 16, is being released from Children’s Hospital this Thursday. There will be a celebration to welcome him home at the Chelsea Middle School gym at 4 p.m. and is open to the public.
During the precouncil meeting, Mayor Tony Picklesimer announced that Wayne Morris, who has been the city’s media director for over a decade, will be taking on some additional responsibilities along with the title of Chief information communications officer.
“I believe this is a job that will be grown into,” Mayor Picklesimer said. “This is something Wayne has volunteered to do. He will be taking on more responsibility with no additional salary. [Media] is getting to be a weekly event and I need to be able to effectively do those things.”
Also during precouncil, the numbers from the December education tax fund were released, and it generated $156,929.59 for the final month of 2019.
During the mayor’s report, Mayor Picklesimer read a proclamation declaring Feb. 23-29, 2020 as Arbor Week and Feb. 29 as Arbor Day. Andrew Nichols with the Alabama Forestry Commission said this was Chelsea’s 21st year to recognize this event. This year’s Arbor Day celebration will be held Feb. 29 at the Chelsea Community Center.
The council approved two ordinances during the meeting. One to authorize a name change from the previous sale of surplus property of 10.62 acres behind the ballfields on Yellowleaf Creek to the developer who will be purchasing the property.
“The city owns 28 acres and parceled 10.62 acres to the developer who is building a new neighborhood there,” said Councilman Scott Weygand. “The city will have access to the other 18 acres for future use of this green space and we will figure out what the best use of those 18 acres will be.”
Options mentioned during the precouncil meeting include a dog park and walking trail around the creek.
The second approved ordinance was an amendment to a previous ordinance which established the salary schedule for the mayor and council members. It will take effect in November 2020.
Upcoming events in the city include:
- Feb. 21-23: Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. See cityofchelsea.com for information.
- Feb. 29: Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast from 7 a.m.to 1 p.m. at the Chelsea Community Center
- Feb. 29: Arbor Day Celebration from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chelsea Community Center
- April 4: Fire at the Foothills Barbecue and Dessert Cook Off from 1-4 p.m. at City Hall
The next Chelsea City Council meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 18 at City Hall. Precouncil begins at 5 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at 6 p.m. There will also be a public hearing regarding the rezoning request of HighPointe Properties for property located on Hwy. 41 containing 58.28 ares from A-R to planned residential development.