AUGUSTA -- Sukey Sikora wants to rid the city of graffiti.

And she's prepared to take on the job all by herself, if she has to.

But Augusta officials don't want the resident to have to do it all on her own.

So Monday, at their meeting beginning at 7 p.m. in council chambers at City Center, the Augusta City Council is set to consider applying for a $2,000 Keep America Beautiful grant to help remove the "tags" left behind by spray-paint-wielding vandals.

The inspiration for her particular mission came from the Kennebec River Rail Trail.

Sikora recently told councilors she was walking on the trail when she began thinking of the trail as a gift, to her, from the people and organizations who created the trail.

"So I want to give a gift back," Sikora said. "The gift I want to give is to get rid of all the graffiti in Augusta. I can do it. I'm willing to do this all by myself if I have to."

She said graffiti in Augusta, most of which is downtown, sends negative messages about the city.

"Graffiti sends two messages," Sikora said. "One, to the ones leaving the graffiti, it says graffiti is tolerated here. The other message it leaves is to residents, visitors and investors. The message to them is the vandals are in charge here."

Sikora said Keep America Beautiful grants are available to aid graffiti removal. But she can't apply for one herself, as only civic organizations are eligible. So she approached the council seeking its support in securing grant funding.

Community Services Director Leif Dahlin said the city could apply for the $2,000 grant.

If successful, Dahlin said the city would administer the grant funds and that he would work with Sikora in a citywide assault on graffiti.

Sikora said a key to getting rid of graffiti is to remove or cover all existing graffiti and, when new graffiti is found, to remove it within 48 hours.

That, she said, will show vandals spraying graffiti is pointless because it will be removed so quickly almost no one will ever see it. She said the graffiti should be removed with as little publicity as possible, because attention is what many vandals are after.

Councilors are already expressing support for her efforts.

"I admire you very much in your tenacity and willingness to take this on," Councilor William Stokes said.

Monday's meeting will be preceded by a pre-meeting at 6:30, which is also open to the public.

Councilors are also scheduled to:

* Hold a first reading -- two are required -- on the combined city and school budget of $51.3 million. Councilors could take final action on the budget June 2.

* Hear presentations on the Kennebec Historical Society and Cony High School jazz band.

* Meet in a closed-door session to discuss a personnel matter.

* Consider using $12,000 in Augusta Tree Board account funds for Memorial Park renovations and to develop a forest management plan for city-owned land around Bond Brook.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com