The Chelsea City Council unanimously approved a requested land split for the old downtown hardware store building at 110 North Main Street on Monday, April 20.
The land split request was made by the building owners Gary and Jill Seitz and Rebecca Hudson in anticipation of a sale of the property.
“Originally, it was three stores when my dad had it,” said Gary Seitz, “So it’s going back to what it was.”
City Council needed to approve the land split because the building is part of a land plat.
The existing property is currently zoned C5 (Central Business District), and the proposed split is in compliance with the city’s zoning ordinance.
City Council also unanimously approved a $6 per hour wage adjustment for both journeyman linemen and electric foreman job designations.
City Manager John Hanifan said that the adjustment would better position Chelsea in an already competitive job market as the city replaces an employee who has retired and another open slot that became vacant when a city employee took a job with Consumer’s Energy.
The foreman’s starting salary will increase from the current $25.73 to $31.73 per hour and the journeyman lineman’s salary will go from the current $23.95 per hour starting salary to $29.95 per hour.
“I think this is a long time coming,” said Council Member Jim Myles who asked city staff to look at other departments that might have a wage structure that’s below industry standards. “We want to keep our people,” he said.
The City Council also unanimously approved a request from the Chelsea Amateur Radio Club to be recognized as a charity for a gaming license.
The group wants to hold a raffle for a radio as a fundraiser said Jeff Cowell, a member of the radio club, club was formed in 1987 and received non-profit status in 1988. The ham radio group assists the city with numerous events such as the Heart and Soul race and the Chelsea Community Fair parade.
Police Chief Ed Toth reported that the department has been on the lookout for drivers in the city who aren’t obeying traffic signs and speed limits. He said that in March more than 100 drivers were ticketed and the “hot spots” were East and Middle streets, Wilkinson and Middle streets and Freer Road. One hundred and four tickets were issued, 52 tickets for “impeded traffic,” which is no points on your license, but does carry a heavy fine.
Wilkinson’s limit is probably too low under State Police guidelines, but all the residences and missing sidewalks make it almost necessary to keep it at 25.