Council and chamber discuss unpaid mural at Olson Center; chamber to follow up with artist

Councilors raised concerns about an unfinished mural at the Olson Center and whether the artist has received payment for work completed.

Mark (name provided in the transcript) said the mural project should remain a council priority. Laurie French, executive director of the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce, told the council she had spoken with Rich Zidlow, who is in contact with the artist, and that she would follow up. "Even though it's not under the chamber, I did talk to Rich last night about it because he was also at the meeting. He's gonna reach out to the artist and find out what we're gonna do about this," French said.

Council discussion indicated there is no invoice on file with the city for the mural. A council member asked whether the city was withholding payment; another council member replied, "No. We have no invoice from any painter for any mural in regards to this." Council members said they would try to determine whether there is a contract and which organization originally engaged the artist; at least one councilor suggested the funding may have come from leftover proceeds of a prior commemorative book sale and that Main Street or the historic preservation group may have been involved.

French said she would check with Rich Zidlow and follow up with council before ice cream days 2026 to try to expedite completion. Council members discussed whether to find another artist to finish the work and to reconcile what portion the current artist has completed so that he can be paid for work done.

The council did not take a formal vote on the mural. Members noted paint and supplies left from earlier work had degraded in storage, and that payment or contract records were not available in city files. The chamber and council members agreed to clarify the project’s funding source and contract status and to determine next steps for completing and paying for the mural.