Hinesville City Council Thursday approved a community art mural as a 175th birthday present to the city and Liberty County from the Hinesville Area Arts Council.
Presented by arts council Chairwoman Leah Poole, the abstract artwork with a stained glass look, depicts a live oak tree with the sun’s rays shining down on it and a shrimp boat in the background. The oak tree represents the roots of the community and the boat represents the area’s connection with seafood, she said.
Although council members questioned the design, the council agreed to the mural, which will consist of four 4-foot by 10-foot panels. Tentatively it will be placed on the side of the art council’s new building at the corner of Court and Commerce streets, but that is pending county commission approval.
Other action items approved by the council were a revised preliminary plat for Cinder Hill subdivision on Sandy Run and Club Drive, a general development plan for Villages on Marne, Phase 1, and a specific development plan for Villages on Marne, Phase 2.
The council also voted to extend Eric Thomas’ appointment to the Hinesville Housing Authority to May 2012. Thomas is serving in place of Liston Singletary during an overseas assignment.
In his report, Mayor Jim Thomas talked about a recent conference he attended. He said the 300 mayors attending approved a letter urging Congress to approve a budget for fiscal year 2013.
He said Congress has not approved a budget in more than three years, and now the “sequestration law” put into effect by the “super committee’s” failure to make significant cuts in the budget to lower the deficit could cost 100,000 defense contractors jobs, which could hurt Fort Stewart and surrounding communities.
Thomas urged council members and residents to write their congressman and senators to tell them to compromise so a budget can be approved.
The meeting concluded with City Manager Billy Edwards reminding there will be only one council meeting in July because of the July 4 holiday and a city planning workshop at Jekyll Island July 18-21. The next meeting is July 12.