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Committee proposes community-painted panels for Middleton Municipal Airport fence
Summary
Committee members discussed a plan to install community-painted 4x8 plywood panels on the Middleton Municipal Airport fence as a seasonal public-art installation, with a working group to set design rules, coordinate supplies and seek planning guidance for any permitting needs.
Matt Hohfeldt proposed a community-driven public-art installation along the Middleton Municipal Airport fence, saying the idea is to "have a day that people paint, you know, a large piece of plywood, like 4 by 8 sheets of plywood, and be able to install those on the fence." The concept seeks to bring people to the airport and involve businesses and civic organizations in creating individual panels that would be displayed together during an event.
Committee members discussed materials and logistics. Hohfeldt suggested quarter-inch plywood as a practical, lightweight option and noted a sheet of plywood would likely cost "$10.12 bucks." He said panels could be painted in advance or during a community installation day and attached to the chain-link fence for a temporary display.
Members raised durability and display questions. Hohfeldt said the group could test small panels and that untreated plywood left outdoors would likely hold up for "a good couple months" before significant deterioration; he also proposed removing panels in the fall to avoid inclement weather. The committee discussed limits on design to keep the installation cohesive, including a possible theme, color limitations and a prohibition on commercial messaging such as logos or phone numbers.
On regulatory oversight, a staff liaison said permanent murals typically go to the planning commission for design review and that as long as a display is not a commercial message it is not treated as a sign; the liaison said staff would check whether temporary panels require a similar review. Committee members agreed to investigate whether the airport panels should be treated differently because they are temporary.
The proposal includes a community and business participation model: local businesses and organizations would pick up panels and supplies from an identified outlet, paint them in advance or host public painting sessions, then bring completed panels to an airport event for installation. Hohfeldt suggested pairing the installation with existing airport events — he confirmed that the Aviation Autos car-and-plane event is scheduled for Aug. 9 and noted the airport field can support pop-up activities for children during such events.
Next steps the committee agreed on included forming a working group and scheduling an initial planning meeting. Hohfeldt offered to host a site visit at his hangar so members unfamiliar with the airport can see the site. A doodle poll was promised to identify a time for the working group's first discussion.
The committee did not take a formal vote at this meeting; members volunteered to research materials (including banner alternatives), refine design rules, and check procurement and storage options for panels after seasonal display.
