By By NORMA LERNER / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – Motorists passing through Cassopolis in the future may have an attractive site to see.
A first in the village, plans are under way to have a mural painted on Cass County's maintenance building located on 201 E. State St. just east of the Cass County Building.
David Dickey, Cass County's superintendent of the Maintenance Department, presented plans on Thursday to the Cass County Board of Commissioners about the mural which will depict a 1950 vintage when the building was originally a Chevrolet dealership. Since that time, it has been used for various county buildings and is now the maintenance department where county trucks and maintenance equipment are housed.
Dickey explained that he has asked the board for money to renovate the maintenance garage rather than build a new one. The exterior boards were taken off and replaced with brick siding painted light beige so that a mural can be painted over it. He said he has gone through hundreds of photos at the library to try and find the Chevrolet dealership but wasn't able to find one showing how it used to look
He has contacted an architect and several websites about murals. He enthusiastically commented, "It's overwhelming when you get started on this. It's under way."
Dickey first thought the front of the building should be painted with a mural of 1950 automobiles such as the popular 1956 and 1957 Chevrolets. He is leaving the building as it originally looked with a small entrance door in front. But an artist said the sides of the building should be painted with a mural as it would be visible to those driving down State Street going east and west.
Dickey said he has been working six months on the idea, but the problem is cost. He said the mural would run about $11,384. He has checked into some grant funds and foundations but there is little for art.
In the meantime, county Administrator Terry Proctor took digital photos of a couple of murals that he saw in Ohio, one of a train scene and one of Gene Autry on his horse advertising a cap gun.
Dickey said he will come back to the board with his proposal later.
During the meantime, Commissioner Debbie Johnson of Niles suggested holding a fundraiser to generate money for the project and make it a community project.
Board Vice Chairman Ronald Francis of Cassopolis remarked he could see the project as an economic development tool and as a way to improve the image of Cassopolis.
The board heard a presentation from Brian Wierenga, vice president of corporate resource development of Midwest Energy Cooperative of Cassopolis, about installing electronic devices on electrical wires to offer Broadband Internet service through the electrical lines. The high-speed service would not require a telephone connection to household computers.
Wierenga explained that the rural areas are an underserved market as some don't get cable or a digital subscription line (DSL). He said the cost of a hookup is $299 plus $49 per month and higher depending on the amount of speed. He said 93 percent of customers identified the need for high speed. He said needs are those families who want regular Internet access from home, students who do online class work, small business owners, people who telecommute or work from home and those who shop or pay bills on line.
However, it could take a couple of years to reach homeowners in the rural areas, Wierenga said.
Proctor noted it is great news. "People in our county need high speed Internet and will need it more in the future."
Proctor announced the commissioners will hold a workshop at 8 a.m. Feb. 12 at Billieville at Big Rock Valley Farm on Decatur Road.
The next regular meeting will be at 4 p.m. Feb. 14 at the County Building.