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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

CHELSEA – The Chelsea City Council accepted a bid for overflow parking at the Highway 11 Sports Complex and approved a donation to 3R Rodeo to assist in holding the annual Bikes 4 Kids Rodeo during a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

After observing issues with crowding in the parking area for the Highway 11 Sports Complex, the city has worked to find a way to create more spaces to alleviate the issue.

“What we found through this first year of operation at Phase Two was that if we had little league going on and high school baseball going on at the same time, we were grossly inadequate in our parking,” Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer said. “We had the available land and the topography really worked out well for it to be done.

Now, with the approval of the bid to Mike Morgan Industrial in the amount of $198,690.13, the city will add 80 more spaces to the Hwy 11 Sports Complex to alleviate crowding and parking concerns.

“I know $200,000 is a lot of money, but it’s a whole lot different than having to do a bunch of dirt work and spending a million on a parking lot,” Picklesimer said.

Picklesimer shared that the contractor was already poised to begin work on the project and was awaiting a signal to start and that the work could be realistically finished in 60 days.

During the meeting, the Chelsea City Council also approved a one year moratorium on certain business licenses. The approved resolution effectually extends a previous moratorium that prevented the over development of storage and warehouse facilities in the city.

Additionally, the Chelsea City Council approved a resolution to donate $10,000 to 3R Rodeo for the annual Bikes 4 kids Rodeo.

Picklesimer emphasized that the Bikes 4 Kids Rodeo is not a city event but indicated that Chelsea is willing to contribute in order to make the event happen for the residents.

“We’re excited, this will be the third annual Bikes 4 Kids Rodeo,” Picklesimer said. “Our citizens have responded favorably to it.”

Picklesimer shared that the event fits nicely into the city’s schedule as its annual fall event which was a part of the year that was previously underserved in Chelsea as opposed to the rest of the seasons which see events such as Fire at the Foothills, The Big Kaboom and the Christmas Parade.

In other news, the Chelsea City Council approved a bid for ERP software and renewed a contract with Rivertree Systems, Inc for audit services.

The next regularly scheduled Chelsea City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. with a pre-council meeting at 5 p.m. The city shared that the public is welcome to attend both meetings.