Following a road safety audit presentation, the Chelsea City Council looked at seven items on its business agenda on Monday, Feb. 4.
They included a request by Chelsea Area Festivals and Events (CAFÉ) to use the Palmer Commons space for 10 Thursdays during the Sounds and Sights on Thursday Nights from 6:30-8:30 p.m. asking for a reduced rate of $25 per night for its use.
CAFÉ spokesman Craig Common said the committee was not sure it would use the space – until after they met later this week and held auditions for performers on March 4 — but they wanted to have the space “tied-up.”
In the group’s application, Common requested a reduced non-profit fee of $25 per Thursday night. However, the Chelsea City Council previously approved a reduced rate of $35 for the Farmers Market (which covers the cost of having the bathroom cleaned) for its events on Saturdays and recommended that same fee for CAFÉ’s request.
Commons said he thought that local non-profits should be exempt from being charged a fee and asked that the application be withdrawn until the group meets.
The vote was tabled until the next meeting in February.
By a vote of 6-1, the City Council approved an updated agreement to be used when “private entities” seek to attach to the city’s utility poles. The purpose is to “lay out the framework to govern their behavior and operations on the Electric Utility’s distribution system to ensure safety and good communication and to capture the accurate cost of the attacher’s impact on operations.”
It would apply to “pole-top antennas, micro wireless facilities and small cell wireless facilities.”
Mayor Melissa Johnson had several questions she said she wanted answered about the lengthy contract first, but council members went ahead and approved the contract, basing their vote on staff’s recommendations.
Johnson was the lone no vote.
The City Council unanimously approved proclamation requests for two new Eagle Scouts – Patrick Quinn and Adrian Eder as well as for the Large and Small Business Leadership Award winners – Smokehouse BBQ 52 and RK Studios.
The Eagle Scout proclamations are expected to be presented to their recipients at the next City Council meeting and the business award winners at the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Feb. 21.
In addition, the City Council was updated on the Wenley Street area storm water project. This is an area where residents have complained about flooding. Among the updates, city staff will meet with Chelsea District School officials about parking on Book Street and a discussion will take place with St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea officials about acquiring a permit across the wetland to tie into Silver Maples storm sewer.
City Manager John Hanifan invited everyone to the city’s annual visioning session on Wednesday, Feb. 13 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Village Conference Center at the Comfort Inn.
In addition, he let people know that the city has posted a job opening for Chelsea’s first Community Development Director and the city has already received a few applications.
