Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

CHELSEA – The Chelsea City Council approved resolutions related to the city’s new comprehensive plan and the Aug. 25 municipal election during a regular meeting Aug. 4.

The council voted in favor of endorsing Plan Chelsea, the city’s updated comprehensive plan document the Chelsea Planning Commission adopted on July 27.

Mayor Tony Picklesimer thanked Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham Community Planner Samuel Parsons for his work in leading the creation of the new plan, as well as the more than 540 residents who shared their input throughout the process.

The 150-page policy document was developed with public input, data analysis and meetings with residents, officials and other stakeholders who served on committees, took surveys and shared ideas during a 12-month period.

Parsons reminded the council that the plan is a guidance document as opposed to a regulatory document; moreover, it is designed to be used as a roadmap by city leaders, developers, business owners and residents as they make decisions about future growth, development, policy and capital improvements over the next 15 years.

“It’s been a fun process to work with you,” Parsons said.

Regarding Chelsea’s municipal election, the council approved to appoint an election manager, an absentee election manager and poll workers, along with individual resolutions stating the candidates for the mayor, Place 1, Place 2, Place 4, Place 5 seats – Tony Picklesimer, Cody Sumners, Scott Weygand, Tiffany Bittner and Casey Morris, respectively – are running without opposition.

Incumbent Chris Grace and candidate Chris Thomas are running against each other for the Place 3 seat.

In other business, the council:

• Approved to award Nick Grant funds to Chelsea High School in the amount of $28,344 for football stadium entrance improvements.
• Approved to authorize an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation to maintain road frontage.
• Approved to accept the lowest responsible bidder for residential garbage collection and curbside recycling services to Republic Services, the low bidder and the city’s current provider.
• Approved the city’s annual donation of $25,000 from its general fund to each of Chelsea’s five schools, Chelsea High School, Chelsea Middle School, Forest Oaks Elementary School, Chelsea Park Elementary School and Mt Laurel Elementary School. Picklesimer stressed the city has made the school donations for more than a decade, and they are completely separate from the Nick Grant program.