CHELSEA, Alabama -- Chelsea leaders praised Mayor Earl Niven's work and the city's future on Tuesday night after approving a nearly $3.7 million bid to construct the new community center that should be complete in about a year.

"I think this is just a really exciting day for Chelsea that we're able to award this bid for the city," Councilman Dale Neuendorf said.

"The center is not just for the seniors," Councilman Tony Picklesimer added. "There's just as many amenities for the young people, young adults, young families" including basketball courts, walking tracks and meetings rooms.

"It is an entire community project," Picklesimer said.

The city is building a roughly 29,000-square-foot community center on 37 acres located off Highway 47 across from Liberty Baptist Church. Discussions have involved plans for a main entrance off Highway 337 and right-turn-only access from Highway 47.

Although the mayor had previously expressed concerns about the project coming in more than the $3 million budget, no discussion on the topic occurred at Tuesday's meeting. Money for the project is coming from a loan secured by the city and an additional 1 percent sales tax targeted for capital projects including a baseball and tennis complex behind Chelsea High School.

The city received four bids total for the project: Argo Building's lowest bid at $3.68 million, Clements Dean at roughly $3.85 million, Metro D at almost $4 million and Murray Building Co. at nearly $3.78 million.

Argo Building's bid included an estimated schedule of 270 days to build the facility, but Niven and architect Bob Wanninger are expecting longer. "I'm looking at a year. That's what Bob and I talked about all along," Niven said.

Debris removal and burning at the site could start in the coming days in order to be complete by the May 1 open-burning ban that extends through October.

Niven abstained from voting on the matter because his nephew is the president of Argo Building. He allowed Councilwoman Juanita Champion to act as mayor pro tem when the topic arose, saying he would abstain "because I have a personal interest and I don't want to have a conflict at this point."

When asked about a groundbreaking ceremony, Niven said it will happen after the site is cleared. "This is not just a senior adult center. This is for the entire community," he said.

Councilman David Ingram noted the city's positive direction with the development of the community center, the sports complex as well as new tennis courts off Highway 51. "It's things like that that make your community lively and keep people coming," he said.

Councilwoman Alison Moore Nichols commended the city for focusing on children. "I love the way our community works and molds around the schools. I believe this community center will be another outreach for our kids and it binds us all together," she said.

Chelsea City Clerk Becky Landers said the community center is the high point of her seven and a half years working for the municipality. "It is the most exciting thing since I've been here," she said.