Is there a public art commission in Grand Marais’s future?
City councilors spent some time during their Jan. 27 meeting discussing the need for such a panel, a topic which has been considered before, but never carried through to completion.
“People are continually giving us stuff…and it’s up to you [council] to decide,” said City Administrator Mike Roth, who recalled that discussion of a public art commission or creation of a public art policy was brought to the forefront during the development of Harbor Park over a decade ago. In fact, Roth said, the lakeside park was designed to accommodate future additions of art pieces, but the citizen committee which came up with the design stopped short of instituting a policy that spells out guidelines for exactly what should be accepted, and where it should be placed.
“Nobody ever followed through with it,” said Roth.
“And my recommendation is that we re-start the conversation.”
The question is back before council due to the offer of a sculpture in the form of a seven-foot-long cast metal canoe which Mayor Jay Arrowsmith
Decoux described as well-done and appropriate for display in Grand Marais. The way such requests have been handled in recent years is that the city council or park board (depending on where the object is to be placed) consider the donations on a case-by-case basis and make the decision.
Examples of recent acquisitions include a memorial plaque/sculpture near the eastern entrance of the Rec Park and the Puzzle Tree sculpture on the library lawn; an example of a proposal which was not allowed was a request for a memorial flag pole to be placed in or near Harbor Park.
There was consensus among councilors that a consistent policy should be devised for the acceptance and placement of art in public areas. But among the questions that need to be answered are: What items should be accepted, and what standards should be set for determining that? Where should the works of art be placed? Who will care for the items, and what type of maintenance will be done? If there is an arts commission or some kind of committee established, who should serve on it?
In order to answer those questions, Roth suggested that former councilor (and now county commissioner) Jan Sivertson be contacted to find out how far along in the process she got in 2014 when she undertook but didn’t complete the project before leaving office; perhaps it won’t be necessary to start from the very beginning, he said, as the former committee may have developed a framework or come up with some ideas that can still be used.
Arrowsmith Decoux said he would be willing to call Sivertson and report back to council, and noted that it shouldn’t be difficult to find qualified candidates with art expertise to serve on a commission if that’s what council ultimately decides to do.
In other news:
. On the advice of City Attorney Chris Hood, council voted to continue its participation in a class-action lawsuit regarding price-fixing by the manufacturer of alum, after learning that the city had purchased enough of the chemical (used to treat wastewater) to be eligible for cost recovery. Hood said that to date there are about 50 class-action claims, most of them in Minnesota and New Jersey, and cautioned that the litigation “could be going on for years.” It is unknown how much money Grand Marais may receive through a settlement, but the city will not incur any cost by participating in the litigation.
. Council approved a lawful gambling permit application allowing the American Legion to hold bingo games on Feb. 27, March 19, April 16 and May 7.
. Council reviewed and approved an extension of the city’s contract with Arrowhead Animal Rescue, with no changes recommended. The document will now go before the animal advocacy group for their input and/or approval.
. Council’s meeting was preceded by a work session to discuss a timeframe for development of the former Tomteboda property and construction of a public works facility/ maintenance garage. Preliminary plans call for site design and assessment to be ready within the next two months; building plans ready for review by April; discussion of financial options and planning in May; and construction to begin in June and end in November.
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