By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – The Chelsea City Council continued its longstanding financial commitment to local schools with the latest round of annual contributions, adding to the more than $2 million the city has donated to its schools over the last 16 years.

Mayor Earl Niven and Councilwoman Juanita Champion presented checks to Chelsea High School Assistant Principal Matt Stephens, Chelsea Park Elementary School Principal Dr. Jeanette Campisi-Snider and Forest Oaks Elementary School Principal Sasha Baker at a May 3 meeting, noting the city’s other schools – Chelsea Middle School and Mt Laurel Elementary School – also would receive checks.

From 2000 to 2016, the city has made the following contributions out of its general budget to schools: $520,856, CHHS; $375,900, CHMS; $345,050, Chelsea Elementary/Chelsea Park; $166,000, Chelsea Intermediate; $190,800, MLES; and $877,000, FOES, for a total of $2,475,606.

“We didn’t do it for recognition,” Niven said. “Every dollar in education is needed. Our schools are very important.”

The city gives $25,000 to each school annually, along with other miscellaneous contributions.

The City Council also approved an annexation request submitted by Kimberly J. Freeman and Janet Taylor for a nearly 3-acre parcel of land located at 130 Stirrup Cup Cove.

The City Council also received for a first reading a rezoning request submitted by Eddie Lumpkin for a 36-acre parcel of property located at U.S. 280 and Shelby County 440. The request is for the property to be rezoned from Agricultural-Residential to Commercial as he plans to build mini-storage buildings on one side of the property.

The Chelsea Planning Commission approved the request at its April 25 meeting.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the request at its first meeting in June, Niven said.

In other business, the council:

•Heard an update on the 2016 Fire at the Foothills BBQ and Chili Cook-Off event from Scott Weygand, who said the Chelsea Kiwanis Club raised about $3,800 for the club and its charities, and the chili portion raised roughly $200 for Chelsea Fire and Rescue’s fire safety program featuring Hero the Firehouse Dog.

•Fire Chief Wayne Shirley thanked those who supported Fire at the Foothills this year and commented on the fire department’s relationship with local schools.

“We’re very proud of our working relationship with our schools,” Shirley said.

•Chelsea COP Director Jim Thornton said the group will help with traffic control near Liberty Baptist Church in June for the church’s Vacation Bible School to ensure the safety of children crossing Liberty Road to the ballpark and Shelby County 47 to the Chelsea Community Center.