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WINONA LAKE - With the anticipation of the Lake City Greenway project's completion, the Winona Lake town council passed an ordinance Tuesday to create an art commission for the recreational trail.
The commission will consist of seven members, each serving four-year terms, who will be responsible for studying, promoting and publicizing art works along the greenway.
Candidates for the group will be announced during the council's next meeting.
To coincide with the creation of the commission, the council also passed a resolution for a public art policy that will ensure suitable artwork is selected through public processes.
"If you provide artwork for the greenway, we'll draw more people. So we're trying to capitalize on our surroundings and one way to do this is through art," Retha Hicks, town clerk, said. "This resolution makes a commitment for the (art) commission to ascertain the policies we've now approved."
Councilman Jerry Clevenger questioned whether commercial signs would be allowed along the greenway, and suggested the council make a decision regarding regulations for corporate artwork or advertising. Town Supervisor Craig Allebach said artwork needed to meet uniformity standards, and the town would need to contact the Lake City Greenway committee for more information.
Funding for the greenway artwork will come from the Winona Lake donation fund and donations from other community sources.
Allebach reported the council, as well as the redevelopment and plan commissions, were scheduled to meet Feb. 28 to discuss the greenway project and other projects currently being organized and constructed.
The council also:
• Reappointed Dane Miller to the Board of Zoning Appeals and Ivan Schuler to the Park Board. An agreement with town attorney Jim Walmer also was approved. Walmer will receive $100 per hour of work for the town.
• Approved a resolution to hire a custodian to clean the town hall.
• Reported Art for the Heart is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Rodeheaver Auditorium. WRSW's Talk of the Town with Jerry Clevenger also will be broadcast Monday at 2 p.m.
Present council members were Clevenger, Joy Lohse, Jeff Carrol, David Delp and Rolly Ortega.
