ELIZABETHTOWN — An effort is being launched to update an Elizabethtown icon.
In 1992, Elizabethtown artist Hunt Cole was commissioned to paint a mural on the side of the Kinlaw Furniture building. The chosen subject was Bladen County astronaut Curtis Brown, who embarked on his inaugural mission in September of that year.
The mural was updated in 2007, and last summer, the Bladen Journal published a story about its disrepair.
“It’s getting expensive to keep up, but it is a vital part of our community and important to the people here,” Elizabethtown Mayor Sylvia Campbell remarked to the Town Council on Monday.
Cole was scheduled to present the Council with options for updating the wall but was unable to attend due to a family illness. Town Architect Rod Fritz filled members in on Cole’s ideas.
“One option is to paint it again,” Fritz explained. “That will cost about $13,000, and in six to eight years, it will start to peel again. A brick surface in this humidity is always going to peel. Those are (Cole’s) words — ‘always going to pee.l’”
A second option involves sandblasting the wall and cleaning the joints, then building an aluminum frame to which a vinyl banner would be attached. The banner would last 12 years or more before it would need replacing. The initial cost to prepare the wall and build the frame would be $24,000, but the cost to replace the vinyl would be $900 every 12 years.
“It’s not the cheapest option to start with, but the maintenance costs would be very low,” commented Fritz.
The final option presented to the Council involves fresco. Similar to what Michaelangelo did, it would involve three vignettes in which would be painted three scenes. The cost would be $33,000, and the mural would last approximately 12 years.
“I really feel this (decision) is something the community could take part in — they feel really strongly about it,” suggested Campbell.
The board took no action, but will consider the options.
In other business, the Council:
— Approved the purchase of three tracts of land. A lot adjacent to the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market will be used for a well site, an adjacent parcel will be utilized for parking, and land on Pine Street will be obtained for future development. The town will pay a total of $160,000 for the three properties.
— Heard an update on the Rescue Squad building from Public Works Director Pat DeVane. Of the three options (tear it down, return it to pre-storm condition, or elevate it), FEMA suggesting raising it. DeVane said the town can possibly acquire additional FEMA money if the property is demolished and converted to a retaining pond. He also pointed out the building’s propensity to flooding, saying the town would be denied any future insurance claims if the structure is maintained.
— Learned the project to relocate the current airport terminal building to the Public Works site has been scrapped after the town learned it would need to raise power lines along the transport route in order to move the building. Doing so would cost between $200,000 and $300,000.
— Heard from DeVane about the quality of the drinking water, after Campbell said she has heard concerns about the taste of the water.
“We spend a lot of money making sure the water is safe to drink, and that’s our primary concern,” explained DeVane. “It’s absolutely safe.”
— Discussed whether or not to include a fishing pier at Greene’s Lake Conservation Park. Councilman Dicky Glenn is against the idea, while Councilman Howell Clark pointed out if the site doesn’t have a pier, people would just fish wherever they wanted. The board approved moving forward with the PARTF grant.
— Approved Fred Tate, Rich Glenn and Mac Campbell for the Elizabethtown Airport Commission. The board is currently seeking someone to replace outgoing board member Hayes Pettaway.
The next meeting of the Elizabethtown Town Council will be May 1.
Chrysta Carroll can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.
