City Council backs suicide prevention mural proposal
The Sidney City Council gave its support to a proposed suicide prevention mural, offering the location be moved to the former swimming pool building.
By News Channel NebraskaSIDNEY -- The Sidney City Council gave its support to a mural project, with a change of location.
Donovan Borgmann recently approached the Cheyenne County Commissioners for permission to put a suicide awareness mural on a county building. He met with the Sidney City Council with a similar request in Legion Park.
"I'm here today to ask you guys if I can have a suicide prevention mural put up. The reason I want it put up is people are affected many times and I've seen it just throughout my life. Using the pump house will mean community members and visitors will see this every day because of the location and its a high traffic zone. Another reason we should get permission to put up this mural is the whole thing will send out a powerful message," Borgmann said at the Tuesday city council meeting.
Councilman Rob Kuhns said he supports the cause, but has a concern with the building.
"I do have a concern with the building. With that being a municipal well, that's regulated by the state and federal government, and it's inspected every three years. You can't paint anything on the inside, equipment or anything like that. But they also regulate the outside. So, if there's chipping paint, anything like that, it has to be taken care of constantly. The City actually can be fined if they don't. I have an issue with it being on that well house, I mean right on the brick," Kuhns said.
He suggested the former swimming pool building near the basketball court as an option.
Anyone who would like to support the project can contact Mayor Brad Sherman at 308-249-2321.