Chelsea City Council adopts FY26 budget, authorizes MOA with school board and hears first reading of business-license update

The Chelsea City Council on Sept. 2 adopted its fiscal year 2026 budget, approved several resolutions and authorized the mayor to execute a memorandum of agreement with the Shelby County Board of Education.

Mayor Tony Pickleseimer read a proclamation designating September 2025 as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Chelsea and the council moved to receive it. "I, Tony Pickleseimer, mayor of the city of Chelsea, do hereby proclaim September 2025 as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Chelsea, Alabama," he said during the proclamation.

The council voted by voice to adopt Resolution 12-76, the FY26 annual budget and holiday calendar. Council members moved and seconded the measure and approved it without recorded opposition. The budget vote followed brief routine approvals, including adoption of the meeting agenda and acceptance of the Aug. 19 minutes.

City Attorney Mark Boardman read the first reading of Ordinance No. 20250902021037, an update to the city business-license code and fee schedule for 2026. Boardman outlined the ordinance sections, including levy of tax, license terms, transfer restrictions and penalty provisions. Because the reading was the first presentation, council did not take a final vote on the ordinance.

Council also approved Resolution 12-74 to designate the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce as the city’s 501(c)(3) partner for the ACE designation and moved to authorize the mayor to execute Resolution 12-75, a memorandum of agreement with the Shelby County Board of Education. The council certified Cody Sumner as mayor under Resolution 12-77.

Fire department leadership briefed the council on elements of the adopted budget that affect public safety. The Fire Chief reported the new pay scale "makes us competitive with all the other fire departments in the Jefferson and Shelby County area," and said staffing has grown since 2016: "When we first sat down here in 2016 we had 5 full time employees... We now have 32 full time employees," he stated. The chief also announced a Colonial Pipeline grant that funded a new drone; Captain Ricketts is working to complete FAA licensing and training for its use in wide-area searches and mutual aid with the sheriff’s department.

Votes at a glance: the meeting recorded voice approvals for the agenda and minutes; the council received the Suicide Prevention Month proclamation; it approved Resolution 12-74 (501(c)(3) designation), Resolution 12-76 (FY26 budget and holiday calendar), Resolution 12-77 (certify mayor), authorized Resolution 12-75 (MOA with Shelby County Board of Education), and voted to pay the city’s bills. Ordinance No. 20250902021037 received its first reading and will return for further consideration.

Mayor Pickleseimer recognized Chelsea High School administrators, including Athletic Director Michael Stallings and Assistant Superintendent David Calhoun, for their work on a school master plan that includes a second gym, improved grandstand, visitor facilities, a turf track and LED lighting for athletic fields — projects the mayor said the council has been supporting.

The council closed with community announcements including a Warrior Wellness Group event planned for Sept. 13, municipal court on Sept. 15, and dates and absentee deadlines for a municipal runoff election on Sept. 23. The meeting adjourned by voice vote.

Next steps: the business-license ordinance will return for a later reading and any additional budget implementation steps or MOA details will appear on upcoming agendas.