By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
jstultz@cherryroad.com
The Greensburg City Council met March 17, 2025 to consider mural sites within the city as well as conduct financial business.
Mayor Matt Christenson called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. with a Pledge of Allegiance followed by Father Ted Skalsky’s invocation.
Council present included Mark Trummel, Nathan Charlton, Pam Reves, and Wayne Keeton. Haley Kern was absent.
Also present were Administrator Stacy Barnes, Tourism Director Heather Bailey, and City Clerk Christy Gibson.
In the Citizens Comment portion of the meeting, Julie Lyon, Project Manager for Kiowa County Economic Development, updated the council on the childcare Tri-Plex. She thanked the city for their financial contribution to the project. Additional funds for maintenance and other expenses are being applied for. She spoke of the position changes between she and Katie Underwood, who is now Director.
After extension discussion about potential mural location sites, the council voted in favor of using the old pool house instead of the Alliance Grain elevator as a preferred mural location.
Current Tourism Director Heather Bailey brought a follow-up on the Dave Lowenstein visit. Previous Tourism was granted approval to use the Alliance Grain elevator for a mural. After Lowenstein’s visit, organizers felt encouraged but also felt they needed to re-evaluate the mural canvas. Bailey provided a document relaying why the old pool house would be the best choice for what they are wanting to do. This was Lowenstein’s expert recommendation. The organizer’s greatest desire is to tell the story of Greensburg and not have just a standard mural image. Those involved feel that they would lose the story telling capability at the elevator site, have no space for public engagement, and have a significantly higher cost due to the size of the canvas.
Bailey said that one artist who regularly uses elevators for mural canvas estimated a cost of $125,000 for the project. An estimated cost for using the pool house would be up to $40,000.
Bailey said that the elevator location is not level or solid for lift equipment that would be needed for a mural painting of that size. Because of the regularity of high winds, the number of days for safe work would be limited. Also, Alliance is a working elevator. Dirt, dust, and grain blowing into the paint would be an issue.
Bailey also provided a list of reasons the pool house is the best choice and addressed some concerns that could arise, including the potential highway development through the area and smoke damage from the previously approved use of the pool house structure by the fire department for training. She said multi-generations could be involved in developing for such a project.
Barnes said that two mural grants are currently available and a community foundation grant is available as well to support a mural project. Keeton asked if staff would apply for grant funds before asking for Tourism funds. This would be the case. It was clarified that this would, at the earliest, be a 2026 project.
Bailey said a mural project at the old pool house would use the entire building with the removal of wire fence and old chlorine tanks, and clean up to make the space fully accessible.
Charlton also mentioned that smoke could be a concern as the fire department has used the facility during training exercises.
Trummel agreed with applying for grant funding before committing city funds to the project. Barnes advised that to apply for grants, they first need to have a scope of the project when applying for grants. Trummel also asked who would perform necessary touchups in 5-10 years. Typically the original artist reserves the right, by contract, to have to perform touchups. The prepping process and type of paint used for these murals typically produces a 20-year lifespan.
Consensus of the Council was to approve use of the former pool house, which is owned by the city, for a mural project, in order to proceed with the grant application process.
In other business, the city council:
* approved an annual insurance policy renewal quote for 2025-2026 insurance renewal from EMC with a premium estimate of $125,309. There is an approximate 4% increase over last year’s premium, but with new equipment purchased and old equipment sold. The motion carried 4-0.
* unanimously approved Resolution 2025-04, amending Section 2.7 Nepotism in the Personnel Policy Handbook, allowing for family members to supervise family members of seasonal employees, with oversight by the City Administrator.
