The regular meeting of the Chelsea City Council was held on Monday, Aug. 24. Draft minutes and a summary from that meeting are below, pending council approval.
Meeting Overview
This summary is based on the draft minutes; the full text is in the PDF attached below. All seven council members were present. The meeting ran from 7 to 8:42 p.m. and included a closed session on a personnel matter.
Public Comments
Three residents spoke:
- John Welch also raised pedestrian crossing safety and the need for more tree planting, and thanked Council Member Iannelli for visiting the parks with him to evaluate the open tree grates.
- Moe Tate spoke about the sidewalk crossing bridge over Letts Creek, urging a temporary fix until MDOT can repair it, and expressed support for the city’s planned discussion with the Department of Natural Resources about the deer population.
- Tristan Cooke spoke about the pedestrian crossing at Holmes Family Park and the need to address safety concerns.
Presentation
Traci Haynes of Yeo & Yeo HR Advisory Solutions presented the proposed human resources program for the city, including an assessment of the existing system and a plan for developing the city’s HR department.
Consent Agenda
The council approved the consent agenda, which included the Aug. 10 meeting minutes, payment of bills, two block party permits (Susan Drive and Congdon/Summit), appointment of a MERS delegate, a contract renewal with ADP, the purchase of 20 Lumecon Ring of Fire lights, and the purchase of a semi-truck computer. Several items were moved to the regular agenda for individual discussion and votes.
Key Decisions from Aug. 24 Meeting
- The council authorized Fiscal Year 2026-2027 sidewalk replacement work with Grass Lake Concrete Co., Inc., at a total cost not to exceed $120,000. The city bundles sidewalk repairs across the community to reduce costs; the authorization allows the work to proceed without each location returning to council for separate approval.
- A blanket purchase approval for fuel was approved. The city fuels its Police, DPW, Wastewater, Electric and Water department vehicles through the Chelsea School District’s pumps and is invoiced monthly, often exceeding the city manager’s $5,000 approval limit.
- A strategic plan professional services agreement with Kelly Petrock and The LEAD Institute was tabled until council members receive more information from the vendors. Council Member Bullerman, who pulled the item, said she preferred a competing submission from Yeo & Yeo, citing municipal experience, benchmarks and accountability.
- Council Members Eric Keaton and Felix Stump were appointed to the Architectural Control Committee, which governs development standards in the Chelsea Industrial Park and is being reestablished after a period of inactivity.
- Ordinance No. 195 (Sidewalks) was adopted. The amendment expands the pedestrian-only sidewalk area south to Van Buren to encompass Holmes Family Park and prohibits additional types of wheeled “vehicles.”
- The council gave initial approval to Ordinance No. 197 (Bicycles), which will return for final adoption at a future meeting. The amendment removes an outdated 1960s licensing and registration program and clarifies the pedestrian-only portion of downtown sidewalks.
- The council gave initial approval to Ordinance No. 198 (Lawn Extensions), which will return for final adoption at a future meeting. The amendment aligns the ordinance with a state law prohibiting yard clippings at the transfer station and with the city’s online brush pickup instructions.
- The council approved an amended and restated parking lot lease with Chelsea Milling Company, formalizing the city’s continued use of the public parking area north of Heydlauff’s and adding approximately 40 spaces farther west along West Middle Street.
- The council approved a $30,000 engineering services quote from IMEG to upgrade the Freer Road Pump Station, which is nearing capacity and would be pushed over by the proposed Wolf property development.
- The council approved a tank repair quote from Pullman, with a 20% contingency, for a not-to-exceed amount of $114,000, to repair a 1.2-million-gallon biosolids storage tank that has deteriorated faster than anticipated.
- Resolution #2026-42 was adopted, making the city a participating agency in the Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System (CLEMIS) Authority.
- The council approved a CLEMIS services contract for $22,747 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The Chelsea Police Department has partnered with CLEMIS since 2008 for records management, dispatching and related needs.
- Mayor Henson led a discussion on a draft City Manager review process being developed by the personnel committee, and asked council for feedback. No action was taken.
Other Updates from Council and Staff
- City Manager Elle Cole reported that Holmes Family Park is open and busy, and spoke about the crosswalk and the metrics needed to warrant it.
- Mayor Henson noted the personnel committee is developing a City Manager review process and reviewed a draft with the council.
- Council Member Merkel reported that the Chelsea Area Fire Authority appointed Adam Farrell to its at-large seat, is updating its website, selected an outside firm to hire a new fire chief, and hired former Chief Jim Payeur to assist temporarily.
- Council Member Angus reported the second Walk Chelsea session was well attended, with more planned at the Senior Center, and that the new Chelsea Run Club has met four times.
- Mayor Henson reported the DDA’s mural project is moving forward with planters arriving this week, and that a Community Key Stakeholders meeting addressed the Community Social Worker contract renewal.
Closed Session
The council then entered a closed session on a personnel matter. Upon returning, Council Member Keaton made a motion, seconded by Council Member Merkel, to direct the City Attorney to take the recommended action.
(The council subsequently called a special meeting on Aug. 27, where they voted to terminate City Manager Elle Cole for cause. )
The draft minutes are available below, pending council approval.
City of Chelsea Regular Council Meeting – Draft Minutes from Aug. 24, 2026
Chelsea City Council and commission agendas, packets, and minutes are also available at city-chelsea.org.
