GLENWOOD SPRINGS – Paintings by local artists will be hung at City Hall in seasonally-changing displays – compliments of the city.City Council on Thursday accepted a proposal from local artist Fred “Lightning Heart” Haberlein to allow local artists’ paintings to be displayed at City Hall and to pay him $300 per month – or $3,600 per year – to provide the service. “I change out shows in several places,” Haberlein said. “We looked at it and said, `Why don’t we do something like a plant service, except it’s an art service?'”The fee is charged by Haberlein for the service of collecting, putting up and taking down the art. “We would contract with artists we know,” he said. Some issues raised by City Council included concerns that some art could be offensive and that the paintings could be stolen. Haberlein quelled those concerns by telling city leaders that that any art deemed offensive would be removed, and all the artwork would be insured.”The object is for it to be beautiful; offensive work would be removed,” he said. “We’re not here to prove a point, we’re here to make it beautiful.”Another issue raised was whether $300 a month is too much – especially when some of the artists could make money by selling their work from the walls of the building. “That’s part of the problem,” Haberlein contended. “Artists are always being asked to do things for free because they love what they do. . Try asking a lawyer to do something for free.”Haberlein’s point seemed to convince council. Funding for the art placement and removal was unanimously approved just minutes later. The artwork will be displayed throughout City Hall once the show begins. The start of the program was not yet determined Thursday. artists: see page 6artists: from page 1″The best thing about this is that it shows that the city of Glenwood Springs is behind art and artists,” Councilwoman Jean Martensen said. In other business, City Council:-Approved allowing Greyhound Bus Lines to use the railroad building located at edge of a parking lot just west of City Hall as its new stop and bus depot. As part of the deal, Greyhound district manager Mike Timlin said the company would upgrade the building and area. “We’ll probably have to add a rest room and a ramp for wheelchair access,” he said. -Considered whether to join in funding a regional housing trust fund to help people to purchase homes in the area. “Even though the housing market has softened a little bit, it’s still unaffordable for some,” said Healthy Mountain Communities director Colin Laird, who gave a presentation on the trust to council. Laird was hoping to get a pledge of around $50,000 from Glenwood Springs, but no decision was made Thursday on whether to contribute to the trust fund. -Approved a permanent structure – which included two employee housing units – at a private boat ramp in the Gilstrap commercial subdivision on the Colorado River in West Glenwood. The new ramp will take pressure off the crowded public boat ramp at Two Rivers Park.-Approved a revamped phasing plan for the expansion work at Valley View Hospital. Architect Sam DiCarlo said the new design for the hospital more resembles a “health hotel.”-Requested a work session on the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority’s Corridor Investment Study. The public work session will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at City Hall. -Discussed whether to waive tap and other fees for Glenwood Springs businesses that move into the city.Steven Beham, owner of the Bayou on Highway 6 & 24, said he’s losing the lease on his popular Cajun restaurant and the high fees could force him to relocate the restaurant in New Castle. If the fees are waived, however, he plans to open a larger version of his eatery in downtown Glenwood Springs. “Whether you want to admit it or not, Glenwood needs the Bayou,” Beham said. Councilman Larry Emery said he’d be in favor of waiving some of the costly fees for long-standing local businesses. “I think we want economic revitalization of the downtown. We want to encourage businesses to locate there,” he said. The details were not finalized at Thursday’s meeting, but Councilman Don Gillespie said, “Anyone who’s had longevity here, we should support that.”Contact Greg Mass: 945-8515, ext. 511gmasse@postindependent.com