CHELSEA – The Chelsea City Council passed a $9.2 million operating budget along with a $12.8 million capital projects budget at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

The capital projects budget includes a number of attractions to be added to city parks and road improvements over the next four years.

The operating budget for Fiscal Year 2018-19, meanwhile, projects a significant increase in revenue over the current $7.4 million budget ends Sept. 31.

Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer said a growing sales tax base will allow for a larger budget, including the capital projects, though $10 million of the projects will be funded through a bond issue.

“This is an exciting night,” Picklesimer said after the Council approved the budget and noted that Chelsea’s first budget after incorporation in 1996 was $38,000. “Our city is really growing.”

At the Chelsea Community Center, about $3 million in additions will include a multipurpose football field, playground, four pickleball courts, splash pad, amphitheatre stage and archery park.

The city recently purchased five acres of property adjacent to the Community Center and now owns 25 acres there.

Several additions totaling about $5 million are also planned as part of Phase 2 of the athletic complex off Shelby County 11, including a walking track, four new baseball fields, a multipurpose field and multipurpose building that can be used for wrestling and other sports.

Construction of the Weldon Pavilion, using materials salvaged from the old Weldon store, is part of the plan.

Space will be left championship-size baseball field to be built as part of Phase 3 of construction at the park.

Also included in the capital projects plan is about $1.5 million for a third fire station for Chelsea, which will be located adjacent to the tennis facility off Shelby County 51, and a new fire truck.

Road projects to be addressed include the intersection of Shelby County 280 (Old Hwy. 280) and Shelby County 11, and the intersection of and railroad crossing at Shelby County 37 and Shelby County 39.

In other business, the Council:

• Approved fire contract letters for 2019 that authorizes Chelsea Fire and Rescue to provide services on a contractual basis to property owners outside the city limits. Councilman Cody Sumners said fire dues are due Jan. 1, 2019, and stressed that residents outside the city but inside the coverage area who do not pay their dues are not entitled to service.
• Approved a rezoning request submitted by Barbara Weldon for 1.96 acres of property located at 1539 Shelby County 36.
• Approved the purchase of RecDesk Software for the Community Center.
• Approved to establish and implement mitigation rates for both emergency and non-emergency services by the Chelsea Fire Department.