GF council approves residential murals

By the narrowest of margins the Grand Forks council voted last night (Monday) to allow murals in residential areas.

The request came from supporters of a plan to add a painted mural to Valley Middle School. Supporters note that the Lewis & Clark School has had a mural for years. They say students would be involved in the art project and a potential grant would cover the cost.

Council member Rebecca Osowski says the city just voted to raise taxes for a new school building and adding a painted mural to the outside may not be the way to go.

Assistant School Superintendent Catherine Gillach says the district’s executive board is aware of the concept. Gillach says the mural will be on a separate board – not the building itself. “The transportability is to me the perfect storm because if it’s a piece we decide we do not want to transfer to the exterior of the building perhaps it can transition to an interior component.  Or perhaps capture it another way and put it on display in a smaller form.”

A motion to send the issue back to Planning and Zoning for further review was defeated by the council.  A motion to allow murals on public and private schools – as well as churches – was approved on a 4-3 vote.

All murals would need P & Z and city council approval.