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Split Reed City council vote over sesquicentennial logo after councilmember urges return to 1975 design
Summary
A motion to reject two proposed logo agreements failed and a separate motion to accept an amended agreement carried after a split roll-call vote; Councilmember Charles L. Lupo submitted a written letter urging the city to rescind the new logo approval and reinstate the 1975 student-designed logo; designer Sarah Spruit addressed the council seeking an agreement.
A split Reed City Council vote over use of a new sesquicentennial logo prompted an exchange on Feb. 10 after Councilmember Charles L. Lupo submitted a written letter urging the council to rescind approval and reinstate the 1975 student-designed logo.
Mayor Roger Meinert moved (seconded by Charles Lupo) to reject both proposed logo-usage agreements; that motion failed on a roll-call vote with Nixon, Meinert and Lupo voting yes and Burchett, Bailey and Guiles voting no. Council then considered an amended agreement: a motion by Trevor Guiles (seconded by Nate Bailey) to accept the agreement with amendments carried; the roll call recorded yes votes from Bailey, Lupo and Guiles, no votes from Meinert and Nixon, and an abstention from Burchett.
Charles L. Lupo had submitted a written letter saying the logo — created by volunteers for the city's 150th anniversary — had become the subject of a dispute over rights and that the council should "rescind our approval of the current logo and instead reinstate the logo designed and gifted to our city by its students in 1975." Lupo described the designers' volunteer contributions and argued the community's existing 1975 logo better embodies a gift to the city.
Designer Sarah Spruit addressed the council after Councilperson Nate Bailey invited her to speak; according to the minutes she "spoke to council expressing her desire to come to an agreement with the City of Reed City to obtain the Logo in discussion." The minutes do not record direct remarks beyond that description.
Why it matters: the dispute raises questions about intellectual-property expectations for volunteer community artwork used for city branding and about how the city documents and approves logo usage for fundraising or merchandise. The minutes show council deliberation and recorded votes but do not provide full details of the amended agreement adopted or the specific terms resolved.
Next steps: the council approved an amended agreement with recorded votes; the minutes do not state the effective date, the amendment text, or whether further negotiations with the designers will be required.
