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CHELSEA – Students and teachers at Chelsea schools showed their appreciation for grants from the city by writing notes to the mayor and City Council.

Chelsea officials read the notes from Chelsea Park Elementary School and Forest Oaks Elementary School during a work session on Tuesday, Feb. 18, and then Mayor Tony Picklesimer gave an update on the grant program during the subsequent City Council meeting.

“Even though our sales tax is 1-cent higher, our residents and those who do business here are still doing business here faithfully,” Picklesimer said.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2019, Chelsea instituted a 1-cent sales tax increase, with proceeds benefitting education in the city.

A committee was formed to consider requests and award grants, with projects funded so far including technology in classrooms and other needs.

In other business, the Council:

• Rescheduled a meeting for Monday, March 2. The originally scheduled date, March 3, is the same date as the Super Tuesday primary elections, and at least one councilmember will be volunteering at the polls.
• Reviewed the monthly financial report during the work session. “The city had a very good month,” Picklesimer said. “We’re becoming more and more self-reliant now.”
• Heard that a Coffee with the Mayor event sponsored by The Shelby County Chamber is scheduled for March 24 at the Chelsea Community Center.
• Heard from Morningstar United Methodist Church Pastor Mark Puckett that the church is hosting an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 26 and an Easter egg hunt on April 5. Puckett gave the invocation at the beginning of the meeting.
• Heard from Emily Sims with the Chelsea Public Library that the library’s coding club has seen much interest.
• Heard from two residents of Rich Drive about the poor condition of the road.
• Heard from Chelsea Citizen Observer Patrol Director Carlos Sanders about the organization’s upcoming awards dinner.