Summer reading seeing success in Chelsea
Kids in Chelsea are visiting the library in record numbers this summer.
Since the first day of June, 700 people have come through the library, Dana Polk, director of the Chelsea Public Library said at the June 7 Chelsea City Council meeting. Already, 35 teens have signed up to participate in the library’s summer program, contrasted with the seven who participated last year.
“We’re bursting at the seams,” Polk said. “I think we’re just going to have a fun summer.”
To encourage physical activity over the summer, the library will be hosting several sports-related events, such as Hoops for Fitness, an event featuring Sock Poi, “creative movement with weighted socks,” Polk said.
This summer, Chelsea will also see more activity on the baseball field. This weekend, 32 All-Star baseball teams will converge on Chelsea. Councilman David Ingram said he hopes that this will be a preview for the future as ballpark facilities are enhanced.
“It’s one of the largest turn-outs we’ve ever had in Chelsea,” he said. “It’s good for the city.”
The Chelsea Sports Complex, which will include new baseball fields for the city, is on track for completion. The construction of the concession stand and parking lot are in progress and workers are supposed to start laying sod this week.
The fire department transport vehicle may be refurbished and returned at the end of August, instead of the middle of October as originally planned. The fire department received a discount of $500, the refurbishers picked up the transport and the department paid half up front and will pay the remainder later.
“We need the truck,” said Chelsea Fire and Rescue Chief Wayne Shirley. “We’re looking forward to it, and I’m thankful to the city.”
The fire department was busy last week with a pine straw fire, Shirley said. Highway 11 was closed for several hours, which Shirley said was “an inconvenience, but necessary,” as the safest and most effective way to handle it was to control the spread.
Also at the meeting:
- The council approved an annex request from Tall Timbers, LLC for almost 200 acres on Highway 11 next to Chelsea Station. A portion of the land is proposed to turn into a subdivision, and the remaining land will be rezoned into commercial and storage area.
- The council voted in favor of replacing Paula Baker for with Lori Chaney on the Chelsea Library Board. Baker's term was set to expire May 2017. The council also reappointed Jerry Roething and Liz Weygand to the board.
- The council approved a rezoning request that will allow mini-storage buildings to be built on 36 acres located at Highways 280 and 440.
- The council appointed City Clerk Becky Landers as the 2016 supervisor of elections.
The next city council meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on June 21.
The council is considering moving July’s council dates to the second and fourth Tuesday of the month (July 12 and 26) because of a conflict with the election qualifications. If changed, the date will be posted on the City of Chelsea’s website. Pre-council will still be held at 5:30 p.m. and council at 6 p.m. at Chelsea City Hall.