By Lynne Turner, Enterprise News Staff

Wellington North Council has approved a one-time grant up to $2,500 under the Public Arts Grant Program for the completion of a mural on the north wall of 143 George Street in Arthur.

In a report to council Business Economic Manager Dale Small said an application, signed by both the business owner and the Arthur Murals Committee, had been received under the program for a mural on the wall of Sussman’s.

The proposed mural, Mr. Small said, ties in to the theme of Canada’s Most Patriotic Village and will be completed by a local artist. Seventy-five percent of the funding will come from the Arthur Murals Committee, which earlier this year received funds from the Farm Credit Canada – Agri Spirit Program.

Mr. Small said that on Aug. 2 the Community Improvement Plan Review Panel (CIPRP)– April Marshall, Darren Jones and Dale Small – reviewed the application and decided to recommend the Economic Development Committee (EDC) approve it. Because the EDC (which is mandated to discuss the review panel’s findings and forward a motion to council to approve or decline the application) does not meet until September, and the panel didn’t want to delay the decision process until then, Mr. Small said he contacted EDC members, “explained the situation, provided an overview of the application and the review panel’s recommendation.”

David Stack and Ian Turner, members of the Arthur Murals Committee, were at Monday’s council meeting.

Back in May Wellington North Council approved the EDG’s Community Improvement Plan and the public grant application process.