ARCHBOLD WEATHER

The Mural Challenge


The blank wall on the south side of Rupp Furniture in downtown Archbold.

The blank wall on the south side of Rupp Furniture in downtown Archbold.

Paint a mural on a blank wall in downtown Archbold. Seems like such a simple idea.

When there’s public money involved, nothing is simple.

Archbold Village Council is the driving force behind the mural project. Already, council spent over $70,000 just to prepare the wall for a mural.

But council has made no secret the general fund budget is tight. Council has already taken away one service– unlimited trash pickup once a month. Village officials are working on a way to maximize the village income tax collection.

What are our options? What are some of the questions that need answers?

Given the general fund issues, should council be thinking of paying for a mural?

At least one potential sponsor has offered to help with the project. But what if two or more sponsors want a say in what is eventually painted? What if sponsors have conflicting, incompatible visions?

And what about the cost of the maintenance of a mural? You can’t just use normal paint– you need paints that hold their colors over a long period of time in the sunlight.

Some want to see a rendering of a mural before spending any money. But a rendering costs money. There’s a classic paradox. Remind you of the chicken and the egg?

On Monday night, Sept. 23, council tabled the latest action on the mural project.

Council shouldn’t stop. Continue researching, studying and discussing a mural. The questions can be answered. The issues can be resolved.