CENTERVILLE — The Centerville City Council Monday night voted 5-0 to try the Garden Club's idea and place three locally-made metal artworks at one of the crosswalks on the Square.

The motion to allow the artwork on the Square included Centerville Street Department oversight.

Pat McAfee with the non-profit Centerville Garden Club addressed the council about the club's mission and newest endeavor to purchase locally-produced metal artwork to be placed in the pots on the Square during winter months and on the Square during the summer months.

"One of the things that we looked at was the pots on the Square after the flowering season had ended," McAfee said. "And we've just been removing the plants and leaving the pots blank and vacant. And we thought it would be nice to do something at Christmas."

The Centerville Garden Club eventually will purchase 24 of the $400 pieces of metal artwork — one for each large flower pot that rings the Square. McAfee said the metal artwork of baked enamel metal tubing range from 6-8 feet in height are made by an artist in Moulton.

The sturdy artwork during the winter months would call the pots home and sport Christmas decorations. Then during the summer months the Garden Club's plan is to place six of the artworks at each of the four crosswalks on the Square.

"As you walk across the crosswalks from the Courthouse to the store fronts some have nearly been hit as cars are swinging through those crosswalks," McAfee said. "And making it a drive-through when it was really intended for pedestrians."

McAfee said the Garden Club was not asking the city for any money, just permission and method to place the artwork at the center of the crosswalks during the summer months at a time to be determined.

One of several issues yet to be worked out is what kind of base to use to anchor the artwork to the street in order to keep them from tipping or to be stolen. Other issues to consider are Pancake Day parade, the street sweeper and drivers not used to impediments in the crosswalks.

McAfee and fellow Garden Club member Lottie Wilson espoused the virtues of a visually appealing Square.

"We just think this could be a signature piece for our community," Wilson said. "We think it's a step forward for our community."

"Our vision is to make our city every attractive," McAfee said. "Safe for pedestrians and make our city an outstanding tourist destination."

In other action Monday:

The council voted 5-0 to purchase a Vermeer V500LE trenchless excavation trailer at a cost of $45,072. The lowest bid submitted was for $38,000. The highest bid submitted was for $61,995.

The decision to purchase the more expensive model was based on information Steve Hawkins, superintendent for Water Pollution Control, provided the council. Hawkins said more than one department would use the machine and employees choose the Vermeer because it had more vacuum power and it does come with a local sales person.

The council voted 5-0 to buy back a lot in Oakland Cemetery purchased for $75.50 by Larry Tosone in May 1957. The city's policy is to only pay 75 percent of the purchase price when it buys back a cemetery plot.

One agenda item the council unanimously denied by consensus was a request to open meetings with a prayer. The consensus reason to not allow a prayer was to keep a space between organized religion and state.

"I'm not an agnostic or a heretic. It's just let's keep church and state separate," Councilman Rob Lind said. "I would hope we all deal with our god personally."

Lee DenHartog was named the citizen of the month for June by Centerville Mayor Jim Senior.

A letter written by Joyce Bieber, Centerville Rathbun Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, regarding the recent tractor ride in Appanoose County was read by Senior.

"Opportunities like this are wonderful because, not only do they bring in visitors and money, they demonstrate what we are capable of doing," Bieber wrote. "We are very grateful to the city of Centerville. The street department, the police department were integral in making things run smoothly. As always, they were very professional and competent."