Chelsea State Bank ad

May 19: Chelsea City Council agenda includes budget, millage, utility rate vote

welcome-to-Chelsea-sign (2)The Chelsea City Council has a large number of business items — including approval of the city’s proposed operating budget, utility and millage rates — on its agenda on Monday, May 19.

First up, a vote on the city’s proposed $3.975 million 2014-15 operating budget, which does not include any millage increases. If approved by the City Council, there will be a copy of the document up on the city’s website.

Next up will be a vote on the city’s proposed utility rates which include water rates of $6.44 per 1,000 gallons used with a monthly service charge of $6.76 for a three-quarter inch meter or smaller meter. Proposed sewer rates would be $7.44 per 1,000 gallons plus a $17.10 per month service charge for a three-quarter inch or smaller meter and the base monthly electric rate would be $6.01 plus $0.0740 per kilowatt used.

Trash bags would remain at $25 for a package of 10.

Also included in these proposed rates are parking tickets which start at $3 for parking on or across a line, $5 for parking longer than 3 hours in posted areas and $50 for illegally parking in a handicapped spot.

The City Council will also vote on the proposed Downtown Development Authority (DDA) millage of 1.6727 mills for those properties located within the DDA district. It’s the same rate as in 2013.

The 2014-15 city millage rate is also expected to be unchanged and total 13.1555 mills, which breaks down to 11.2 mills for the general fund, 1.22 mills for streets and 0.7355 for solid waste.

Also up for discussion is a request to place old equipment up for auction, including a 2007 Ford F-150 pickup and 10 chairs. If approved by the City Council, the items would be auctioned in June at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds by Braun and Helmer Auctioneers. The city has participated in this auction for the last two years.

City staff is also asking to be part of MuniRent, an online platform for municipalities to rent equipment from each other at a $500 subscription fee. Currently, according to the agenda item, there are 15 municipalities and county agencies from Washtenaw, Macomb and Oakland counties.

Purple Rose Theatre Company is asking for permission to use the Park Street city parking lot for its 3rd annual backyard BBQ fundraiser on Aug. 2. Tents would be set up on Aug. 1 and taken down on Aug. 3 if approved.

The City Council will also be asked to consider a not to exceed $12,000 consulting contract for Clearzoning, Inc. to assist the city in its fight against the proposed McCoig Materials sand mining operation in Lyndon Township.

The contract would include a report to the City Council following a visit to Chelsea as well as to Oxford, Mich., (where the municipality’s downtown is experiencing heavy gravel truck traffic), research of the impact of heavy gravel traffic going through Chelsea’s downtown, and a review of McCoig’s application to the Lyndon Township Planning Commission, and other tasks.

Jasen King is being recommended by Mayor Jason Lindauer as a full member to the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals following the death of Richard Bauer. Currently, King is an alternate member to the board. If approved, his term would end in September, 2016.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email