POCATELLO, Idaho â A mural of horses on the side of a historic building in downtown Pocatello gets to stay thanks to intervention from the City Council.
The council on Thursday voted to allow the mural to remain on Stan Gates' firehouse building, the Idaho State Journal reported (http://bit.ly/1L7gYY8). The vote overrules the city's Historic Preservation Commission, which called for the mural's removal.
The mural was in question because Gates didn't request permission from the city before commissioning it.
Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad said Wednesday that he expected the council to save the mural, calling it a "no-brainer."
The mural gained strong community support, with an online petition gaining more than 5,800 signatures in support of saving it and about 150 people attending Thursday's meeting.
"Public art brings color and life to a community," said the petition letter, addressed to the Pocatello City Council and Historic Preservation Commission. "The recently finished mural on the historic firehouse is a valuable and beautiful addition to our city."
For the artist who commissioned the mural, he said the public support shows Pocatello wants to move forward in terms of art.
"I really appreciate the support I've seen from the Gates and from people online," said Chris Doucette, who painted the mural. "It just feels like (the Historic Preservation Commission is) looking to stagnate, and I don't think that's a good way to go.
