Vinemont approves two new murals, discusses upcoming events

Patrick Camp, The Cullman Times, Ala.
·3 min read

Mar. 14—VINEMONT — The town of South Vinemont tabled discussions on the formation of a planning commission this month after low levels of interest from residents.

The matter appeared on the council's agenda last month, but was met with hesitation by the council due to concern over the number of seats which would be required to form the commission.

Town clerk Kayecea Sasser said that a special called meeting was held Monday evening to gauge the public's interest which she said was met with equal levels of hesitation. The following day during the town's regularly scheduled meeting it was decided to continue tabling the matter, but not to veto it entirely.

"We just need to take baby steps," councilmember Chris Thompson said. "We can just talk about it each month. We need to have a vision and a plan for what we want to do and then just go from there."

For the time being, the council will continue acting as its own planning commission and focused efforts on local tourism and upcoming events.

During last month's meeting, the council discussed requesting its mural, located on the Art Park pavilion, be added to the Alabama Mural Trail, a project developed by The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development. Thompson also said he had spoken to the mural's artist, Jack Tupper, about the possibility of creating a second mural featuring local historical landmarks across the side of the town's storm shelter.

The council approved a budget of up to $1,700 for the second mural on Tuesday. Councilmember Bonnie Goodwin presented a proposal for a third mural to go across the side of a historical lodge, which is now an unused building located across the street from Vinemont Middle School.

Mayor Radginal Dodson was initially skeptical of approving the $1,800 budget for the third mural, but after learning that the town's park budget already contained sufficient funds to cover one of the two murals he expressed approval for the project.

Because the building is owned by the Cullman County Board of Education, the town will need to receive approval to create the mural but tentatively approved the project's budget.

Tupper is responsible for 10 of the 21 murals currently listed on the mural trail in Cullman County.

Sasser said based on previous conversations with Alabama Mural Trail representatives, she suspected the town could expect to be included in the trail in around four to six weeks.

The town also announced a new event they hope will become an annual spring tradition. The Farmers and Makers Market is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at the Vinemont Community Center.

Sasser said she expects roughly 40 vendors to attend the event — nine have already registered — where they will sell "anything that's legal," including homegrown produce and handcrafted goods.

Based on the success of recent events sponsored by the town, Dodson said he expects the event to become a quick success.

"If this goes over as good as everything else around here has lately, it may become a yearly thing," he said.

In other business the council:

* Announced its upcoming Senior Citizens Day from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday, March 18 at the Vinemont Community Center.

* Announced its upcoming Easter event from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23 at the Vinemont Comm

* unity Center.

* Approved a $450 donation to the American Legion Auxiliary.