Council accepts donation of Canal mural contingent on alternate site search

The Portage Common Council voted to accept a donated mural formerly on a building now being converted for a Domino’s Pizza, with the acceptance contingent on the donor identifying an alternate, preferred location closer to the canal or county property.

The Chamber of Commerce offered to donate the mural, which it had commissioned in the past and which is currently in two removable pieces. The chamber’s executive director, Mary Anne, said the group would like the mural displayed publicly and was open to placing it at the fairgrounds but would consider other canal-area locations if available. “If you have another area, we'd gladly look at another space,” Mary Anne said.

Alderson Norbeck and others suggested the old feed mill or another canal-adjacent site would be more appropriate than the fairgrounds. Alderson Feeney moved to accept the donation contingent on finding another location; Alderson Rohrbeck seconded. The roll call vote was recorded as Aye from members present and the motion passed.

Council members instructed staff to explore alternate mounting locations, including county-owned buildings, and to report back to the council. The chamber said the mural is in storage and can be moved once a site is confirmed. The council did not commit to long-term maintenance if the mural is damaged in the future.