Council folds North Sanpete Arts Council into Mount Pleasant government

Mount Pleasant City Council voted on Jan. 14 to adopt Ordinance 2025-01, a move that formally brings the North Sanpete Arts Council under Mount Pleasant city administration.

The ordinance moves the arts council into the city’s recreation department structure and gives it a city budget line, the council heard. Discussants said the change will make it easier for the arts council to access some grants and to use RAP tax funds for public art installations, gallery supplies, event advertising and small operating expenses.

Council members asked about revenue streams and expenses for the arts council’s building use, and staff responded that the council has historically relied on donations and RAP tax allocations; fundraising has been infrequent. The arts council representative described volunteer leadership and past community fundraising for a lighting project and said the group wants to expand art installations such as murals, statues and benches throughout town.

Council member Kate made the motion to approve the ordinance as presented with date and formatting corrections; Rodney seconded. The clerk recorded a roll call: Lynn: yes; Russ: yes; Brandy: yes; Kate: yes. The council directed staff to update the ordinance date on the document before final publication.

Why it matters: Bringing the arts council under city administration creates an official budget line, which the city and the council said should help the group qualify for certain grants and to use RAP tax funds for public art projects. Council members emphasized the council would still need to approve any specific expenditures as part of the city budget process.

Ending: Staff will finalize the ordinance text and date and publish the approved ordinance in the city’s ordinance book.