Butler is working on policy to address a wide range of needs in the planned Rotary Cultural District, so when art and décor are placed within it, the city can deal with issues as they come up.

City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance Thursday, May 23, that would add signage designating the arts district, which is planned to be bordered by East Jefferson, North Main, Howard, North McKean and Franklin streets. Some of the art and signage placed in the district by Butler Rotary Club PM will be on city property, which is why the ordinance is being created.

Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy said Thursday the ordinance also will include procedure for maintenance on lent art and signage when it is needed.

“If a pole gets to the point where it’s damaged or it’s deteriorating, who is going to take it down, who is going to make that decision?” Dandoy said. “These kind of things are the things we need to think out in advance if something happens.”

Butler County Commissioners chairwoman Leslie Osche is project manager for the cultural district through Butler Rotary Club PM. In March she said the club ordered 12 signs, which will eventually be placed to signify the borders of the district.

Dandoy said because the signs will be on city property, but not technically owned by the city, the city’s officials need guidelines for talks between the city and Butler Rotary Club PM leaders.

“Rather than each time one of these things happen, we’ll have a more general policy ordinance for doing things within the arts district,” Dandoy said. “We’ll be able to just do things like that without having to go through hoops.”