MARSHALL — The murals adorning two downtown buildings in Marshall have seen some wear and tear over time. But there are also questions as to how the community can best plan for and fund the artwork’s maintenance.

On Tuesday, members of the Marshall City Council heard discussion on future plans for two murals, one on the side of the building at the corner of Third Street and Main Street, and one on the building at Fourth Street and Main Street. City Administrator Sharon Hanson said city staff were seeking direction on how to proceed.

“We have been in contact with individuals, both building owners and Jim Swartz, former SMSU professor of art about both murals,” Hanson said. “They both need repair and upkeep.”

Swartz said the Third Street Mural, which is on painted panels attached to the building wall, has already had some weather damage over time. In addition, the current owner of the building was planning to remodel it, which could mean the mural would need to be redesigned.

“It comes down to, do you take down the mural or do you work with it to repair it?” Swartz said.

He thought it would be possible to adjust the mural, and wanted to work with one of the original artists on the restorations.

The Fourth Street mural, which was painted on the side of a brick building, had less complicated repair needs, he said. The mural had some areas with cracking paint, as well as areas where mortar joints would have to be ground out and repaired before being repainted.

“It’s just something that needs to be done about every five years or so in order to maintain it,” Swartz said.

Hanson said the mural projects originally came with agreements between the artists, the Marshall Area Fine Arts Council and building owners. However, those agreements expired in 2021.

“After talking to individuals, it seems like what was done in 2011 was a really good idea and a good process, and we probably want to look at somehow renewing or putting forth new agreements with the building owner and cooperating with MAFAC,” Hanson said.

Hanson said the city doesn’t have specific funds budgeted for the mural repairs, but there were funds likely available, especially in the city’s community services budget.

“It is something we would probably want to budget in the future,” she said. “I estimated $5,000 every five years.”

Council members said they supported working with building owners, Swartz, and the Marshall city attorney to figure out how to arrange for the murals’ upkeep in the future.

“I certainly think we want to see these murals maintained over time. I think we have an obligation to do that. Probably the real question is the mechanism to do that,” said Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes.