ROGERS -- A proposal establishing an arts council was reviewed and discussed Tuesday by the Resource and Policy Committee, with several artists present prior to the council meeting.

The idea for displaying art on public property came from downtown merchants and local artists.

Michael Reese, a retired doctor and artist, took it upon himself to put a plan on paper to present to the aldermen. The resulting ordinance was the work of a committee.

"This is something we've wanted to do for a while. When we approached the city about displaying art on public property we learned there was no ordinance that covered such an idea," Reese said.

"I read a lot of arts council ordinances from other cities and this one is the best I've ever seen," Reese added.

Ed McClure, who serves on the Historic District Commission said the ordinance is like the ordinance establishing the historic commission.

"The ordinances are similar. I haven't heard anything negative about the arts council. All I hear is people saying they are ready to get going on the project," McClure said.

There was some discussion on exactly how the council would function.

Chris Griffin, deputy city attorney, spent several weeks reviewing other arts councils and how they operated before writing the proposed ordinance.

"I pulled bits and pieces of other establishing arts council documents together. Some ideas came from the Bentonville and the Fayetteville arts councils," Griffin said.

"It's impossible to cover every detail in an ordinance. When the council is formed the members will be able to define how the council works, how art is displayed and a variety of other issues. This ordinance outlines the basics not the details," Griffin said.

The basic ordinance makes the arts council a quasi-city committee, with members from the public and city government. The document is very clear the city has no responsibility for the artwork on display in regard to damage or theft. Art committee members will write the bylaws and establish how the arts council should operate. No city money will be involved in the operation of the arts council. It also mandates public art will not be offensive and will be in good taste and in keeping with the morals of the community, Griffin said.

Buddy Wright, alderman, wanted to know who decides whether an object is art.

"That's the big question," responded Ben Lipscomb, city attorney. "The arts council members will make that determination."

Griffin added should the public find a public piece of art offensive there's a way to file a complaint and get an appeal to have the art removed.

"Anyone who is disturbed by a particular piece of art can petition aldermen to remove the piece from public view," Griffin said.

Any suggested changes will be added to the proposal before it's returned to the committee for approval before going to the city council for a vote.

In other business, aldermen accepted a $3.3 million federal grant to renovate the southeast and the transient apron at the Rogers Municipal Airport.

"We are very excited about the grant," said David Krutsch, airport manager. "Those aprons were designed and built for much smaller and lighter aircraft than airplanes that use our airport today. This will make a big difference in the quality of our airport."

Airport commissioners approved filing for the grant a few months ago, but didn't know the grant had been approved until U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and 3rd District Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, announced Tuesday the grant had been awarded.

"The state and the federal governments have been very good to this airport over the years. We have received help from both entities on several projects," Krutsch said.

The contract for the renovation is slated to go to Emery Sapp & Sons, the low bidder on the project, Krutsch added.

Some of the grant money also will be transferred to city coffers. The city paid for the design phase of the apron renovation. Some of the grant will go to airport reserve to cover the cost of design, he said.

NW News on 08/13/2014