Wentzville committee forms Elm Street art subcommittee, backs $10,000 in leftover facade funds

The Wentzville Downtown Committee voted to form a subcommittee to develop a proposed Elm Street street‑art pilot and agreed to direct $10,000 in leftover facade grant funds toward an Elm Street improvement project, with the subcommittee to return with price estimates before the Board of Aldermen deadline.

The committee heard conceptual designs from Lisa Tallent, an art teacher at Fort Zumwalt South High School and member of the Crossroads Arts Council, who showed three sketches that would place stylized native Missouri plants and animals emerging from existing cracks in the pavement, paint planters to match the design, and create a painted ‘‘water’’ flow that leads to an existing storm drain. “This first one is just a very basic like paint cracks into the street and use pre existing cracks that are already there and accentuate them,” Tallent said during the presentation.

Ben (city staff) told the committee that mural and pavement‑painting work on prepped surfaces typically runs “anywhere between $25 a square foot to $75 a square foot.” He said the Elm Street area totals roughly 3,000 square feet but that any of the three proposed designs would cover considerably less — “maybe 1,000, 1,500” square feet — so organizers would need a precise scope and price before final decisions.

Committee members and the artist discussed ways to reduce costs, including approaching local businesses for donated paint and organizing volunteer ‘‘paint days’’ under the artist’s direction to maintain visual continuity. The committee also discussed consulting the Street Department on appropriate materials and techniques and checking bench and planter standards before committing to permanent furnishings.

After discussion about funding sources and timing, the committee adopted a motion to form a subcommittee to research the project, solicit price proposals and identify potential donations or volunteer labor. The committee then voted to allocate the $10,000 in leftover facade grant funds toward an “Elm Street improvement project,” with the subcommittee delivering pricing and a recommended package in time for the Board of Aldermen agenda cycle (the staff noted material for the Nov. 19 board agenda must be in the system by Nov. 12).

The committee’s decision does not finalize a design or commit additional city funds beyond the $10,000; members said further detail is required before bench, planter or other purchases are authorized. Next steps: the Elm Street subcommittee will draft a scope, estimate costs, identify donated materials and return to the committee so staff may prepare a Board of Aldermen request if appropriate.