City officials checking off to-do list projects as term’s 1st year wraps up

The first year for the new Chelsea mayor and council was a busy one. Despite having only one returning city councilor, the new administration hit the ground running.

“This has been, obviously, the busiest and most productive year since I’ve been on the council. The council is energetic; it’s driven,” said David Ingram, the only returning council member. “[Mayor] Tony [Picklesimer] is one of the most driven people I know, to succeed and make people happy. He hit the ground running in November and hasn’t really slowed down since then.”

The city has launched projects such as the renovation of a new library building and the establishment of a municipal court, and it has made progress on long-discussed plans such as reworking the intersection in front of Chelsea City Hall and improvements on the Highway 47 Sports Complex.

Their progress was helped by several projects that were underway or had money set aside and just needed “someone to pull the trigger,” Picklesimer said.

“There were several things out there ready to do, they just needed somebody to get it going. And, you know, what I’ve set myself up for is for the second year of my administration to be kind of quiet because we accomplished a lot, but that’s OK,” Picklesimer said.

Credit is owed to the former administration as well as an active council, Picklesimer said, which has helped push him to accomplish more.

“I have to give an extreme amount of credit to the council — they’re a young, vibrant, energetic City Council,” he said. “I’ve been on three city councils before, and this is by far the most engaged, hardest-working council that I’ve ever worked with.”

To look back on the administration’s first year, 280 Living sat down with the mayor and council to discuss some of Chelsea’s major projects.

Public safety

As a top priority in his first few months, Picklesimer said he is proud of what they have accomplished with public safety in Chelsea. 

There is now a new deputy assigned to U.S. 280, safer traffic patterns at major intersections along the corridor and more competitive salaries for Chelsea Fire Department firefighters, Picklesimer said, adding that he can already see the results of those changes.

“With the presence of that deputy and some of the changes made with ALDOT, we’ve reduced the number of accidents in Chelsea proper on Highway 280,” he said. 

Cody Sumners, a new member of the council and a lieutenant with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, said he prides himself on the changes in public safety.

“The thing that I am most proud of is helping our firefighters in Chelsea by attempting to make their wages more competitive,” Sumners said. “These firefighters always put the city and the citizens first, so it was time that we recognize that and show our gratitude.”

The City Council approved an amendment to the fire department’s budget in February, and Chelsea Fire and Rescue has since promoted multiple firefighters and brought on new staff members.

Roadwork

As a growing city, Chelsea’s infrastructure needs are a growing list. This year, steps were made on some major road projects.

In August, the city and Shelby County presented the first potential plans to rework the intersection of Shelby 39 and Shelby 47 in front of City Hall. The project is in the design phase at this time, and the city is preparing to partner with the county on the work, which will be paid for with a combination of city and county funds.

“A lot of people are asking, ‘What’s next?’ We’re saying, ‘What’s next?’ too, because it’s in the county’s hands,” Ingram said.

A timeline for the project is not yet known, and Picklesimer said what happens at that intersection will impact future projects in that area. 

The city is working to set aside funds for the roadwork and future projects, he said, but for now they are glad to have made progress.

“It’s been being talked about for years, and to get it close to the design process in such a short time, I think, is an accomplishment,” he said.

City growth, developments

With the help of councilor Scott Weygand, the city annexed in nearly 200 acres of property in the last year. 

Weygand took on the task of approaching property owners whose parcel bordered the city and proposing the possibility of annexation. Because Chelsea does not have a property tax, there is no direct financial gain from annexing these properties. 

However, annexation benefits the city by increasing its population numbers, thereby making it more appealing to businesses and larger national brands, Weygand said.

Weygand also spearheaded a plan to compile a list of roads under the city’s management, establish a long-term plan and budget for road repairs.

“It’s easier to plan as opposed to having the doors of City Hall being beat in because of potholes,” Ingram said.

Amenities

From the Chelsea Community Center to the city’s sports complexes, amenities-related projects have, in large part, been additions to already established projects.

The community center has continued to add events, classes and employees during the last year. The sports complex on Shelby 11 officially opened and hosted its first tournaments, and the city set aside funds in the budget for fiscal year 2018 for renovations at the Shelby 47 sports complex. 

The latest project, however, is the new building for Chelsea Public Library. The council purchased the old Renasant Bank building on U.S. 280 in March, and renovations started in October. 

“I’m certainly excited about the library,” Picklesimer said. “I think that was, is something that we really needed, and I appreciate very much how the council got behind me and helped me make that acquisition happen.”

Opening the new library building will help create a wider interest, Ingram said, as they plan to have extended hours, more staff and other additions to make the library appealing to high schoolers and older patrons.

“It’s a big step for the city, and I think it will be very well received by the community,” Ingram said.

Looking forward

Even with several items checked off of the city’s to-do list, the City Council agreed there is plenty more on the horizon.

 “It’s definitely a running start, and at some point, running a city isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. It’s a process,” Ingram said. “It’s definitely been a sprint this year, but I really don’t see things slowing down in the near future.”

The city will face challenges of infrastructure improvements, to maintain roads and improve intersections — such as Shelby 11 and Old Highway 280 or those around Chelsea Middle School — with consistently heavy traffic, Ingram said. 

And the city’s 21 years are also starting to show, Picklesimer said. 

As neighborhoods age, so do their roads, and some are approaching the time for repairs, he said. 

The city will have to plan for those projects while working on the final steps for Chelsea’s Municipal Court and moving economic development forward.

“Once we complete a project, it’s on to the next one,” Picklesimer said. “That’s what’s fun about this job.”