DOWAGIAC — Several weeks after voting to create a committee devoted to enhancing the economy of The Grand Old City, local leaders are looking to concentrate on another important facet of the community — its soul.

Members of the Dowagiac City Council voted unanimously in favor of forming a five-person commission to review submissions for new public art pieces within the community during the council’s meeting Monday at city hall. The council also nominated the following individuals to serve on the newly established board:

• Charles Burling, 3rd Ward councilman

• Thelda Mathews and Bobbie Jo Hartline, longtime organizers of the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival

• Jason Wesaw, an artist and member of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi

• Desmond Lathan, a resident in the Division/Commercial corridor where new public art is slated to be installed

The new committee sprang from discussions during recent city council workshops. During the meetings, city leaders expressed a desire to get input and guidance from the community for the selection public art pieces to place on the brick fixtures installed along Commercial and Division streets, as part of the $1.6 million corridor improvement project completed last year.

“We have places for public art, and we are potentially talking about moving some and adding some, so we should get a broad range of ideas to vet those before they come back to council for some final decisions,” said City Manager Kevin Anderson to the council Monday.

City leaders sent out an art call earlier this year to solicit submissions for the fixtures, which resulted in a number of ideas and concepts that the new board will be tasked with refining and submitting to city leaders for approval.

The board will function similarly to the five-person economic development and opportunity committee the council created during its Nov. 27 meeting.

The members will set their own meeting dates, and will provide regular recommendations to the city council. Like the economic board, the committee will meet for at least the next five years, at which time councilmembers will decide on whether or not to extend the life of the board for another five-year term.

Also Monday:

• The city council voted to reject ownership of five foreclosed properties in city limits.

• The city council approved the payment of $318,149 worth of bills and $129,960 worth of payroll, for a total of $448,110.