Former Mayor Earl Niven honored by Chelsea council
The Chelsea City Council took time out of its Aug. 15 meeting to honor former Mayor Earl Niven.
Niven served as mayor of the city from its founding until 2016, a total of 20 years. He was also the city’s first mayor. During the council’s last meeting in August, current Mayor Tony Picklesimer read a resolution to dedicate the city’s community center in honor of Niven, renaming it the S. Earl Niven Community Center.
The council unanimously approved the resolution, which mentioned Niven’s role in developing and designing the community center, as well as his role in helping establish and build the city of Chelsea.
“This is better than an Academy Award,” Niven said, upon accepting the resolution. “I think all of you know that I love Chelsea. I want to thank this council for this wonderful award. It’s something that will always mean something to me, my wife, my children, my grandchildren, my great grandchildren.”
There are eight generations of Nivens and Chessers that have lived in Chelsea, Niven said, “and they know that they don’t move out of this area.” Niven also complimented the council on what they have done since taking office last year.
Following the council meeting, County Engineer Randy Cole — who was at the meeting for a presentation of the redesign of the CR 39/47 intersection — offered his congratulations to Niven.
“Earl is one of the finest men I’ve ever met, and frankly he’s the finest mayor I’ve ever worked with. And I’ve worked with a lot of mayors,” Cole said. “…His vision has brought Chelsea a long way.”
A formal dedication ceremony for the community center will be held on Aug. 27.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, two Ashton Woods residents spoke up, noting their concern about the intersection of County roads 36 and 39. There have been several wrecks at that intersection, they said, and those wrecks have ended up in their yard. One ran through their privacy fence.
“We’re just concerned with that intersection — the traffic, the speeding,” one resident said.
Following their comments, Picklesimer said that intersection was under review. Concerns about the intersection were also brought before the council at the Aug. 1 meeting.
Also at the meeting:
- The council approved a resolution to contract with Kellis Vegetation Management Inc. to do Chelsea Sports Parks grass overseeding services.
- The council approved to pay the city’s bills.
- Picklesimer provided updates on ongoing projects. Bids for renovations at the new library building opened last week, he said, and “were a bit higher than we expected. ”The city is working with the best and lowest bidder at this time, but the project has not been awarded yet," Picklesimer said. The city is also working on the project to complete the playground by city hall, and bids for a paving project at Cupid Lane will open next week.
- Chelsea Historical Society representative Tony Nivens announced their next meeting will be Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. He invited residents out to share their stories of Chelsea and possibly choose to volunteer with the historical society, which will staff the city’s museum once it moves to its new location across from city hall.