OTHELLO - Othello is asking for permission to hang decorations on the jet displayed at Pioneer Park.

The city council recently approved an annual agreement with the US Air Force to borrow the aircraft. The city has displayed the jet in Pioneer Park since 1996. It was displayed in front of the former city hall and police department building prior to placing it in the park.

When City Clerk Debbie Kudrna reviewed the agreement, she found it contained a clause prohibiting the city from hanging decorations on the plane, she said.

"It could have been in the past agreements. I didn't really check," she said. "As most of us know in the holiday times, there are sometimes lights strung on the aircraft and also a Santa Claus put in the cockpit."

The Air Force rejected the city's request to remove the clause, but officials told city staff they could write a formal letter asking for permission to allow the holiday display, Kudrna said. An Air Force committee would review the request.

"Another option would be to ask the volunteers to not decorate the airplane in the wintertime when they decorate Pioneer Park," she said.

Councilmember Dan Dever pointed out volunteers have put lights on the jet for years.

"It may be a moot point," he said. "Unless somebody else comes along, most of the guys who have done it are too old to climb a ladder anymore. They didn't do it last year for that reason."

Dever continued, saying it would be a good idea to write to the Air Force. He pointed out volunteers might decide they want to hang lights on the jet in 2012.

Councilmember Ken Johnson asked whether the city could purchase the aircraft to prevent further issues from arising.

City Administrator Ehman Sheldon said the reason for the annual agreement is because people steal the equipment.

"They have been known to take them off the pedestal, put engines in them and try to fly them," he said. "So that's why ... we have to do this agreement."