MASON CITY – The Mason City Council will vote Tuesday night on a permanent encroachment permit that would allow the placement of four sculpture pedestals in the right-of-way in downtown Mason City. The pedestals would support a rotating collection of sculptures.
The Mason City Council, with a 6-0 vote, already awarded a “non-profit” group led by Mason City Chamber of Commerce Director Robin Anderson (pictured) $40,000 of public money for the project.
A total of 25 sculptures will be installed throughout the “cultural crescent” downtown area, some of which will be placed very near to Anderson’s office at the Commerce Center, which was renovated using hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funds.
Other local business leaders that received hundreds of thousands of dollars in public assistance to grow their businesses recently helped Anderson choose locations for the sculptures, near their businesses.
According to a City Hall memo written by City Administrator Brent Trout, the first four locations are:
– The NE corner of the intersection of Federal Avenue and State STreet
– The Federal Ave. Plaza, west of Moorman Clothiers
– The Federal Ave. Plaza, west of 9 S. Federal Ave.
– Sidewalk south of 20/22 East State Street
Trout’s memo says the pedestals will be placed so they do not interfere with visibility at intersections, inhibit pedestrian access, interfere with vehicle doors and obstruct fire lanes near the north entrance to Southbridge Mall.
Pedestals for the additional sculptures in the right-of-way will require additional review and approval by the City Council.
Anderson’s “non-profit” group must carry $1,000,000 / occurrence and $2,000,000 cumulative insurance coverage and list the City as an alternate insured.
There are laws on the books for disabled right of ways on the sidewalk. There are certain dimensions for handicapped people on sidewalk access. In fact there is a handbook that covers this.
Just what does this sculpture represent? Looks like mama prairie dog and her little ones. ????
It will do no good to complain about this as they will do as the Chamber wants as always. It doesn’t matter what the tax payers want and that these statues are dirt bag ugly. Lets just put them in the right of way so we have to plow around them everytime it snows. With any luck one of us senior citizens just might take them out this winter.
This view looks like an animal howling in pain with bones stacked around the base. Too bad it will bring pleasure to only a few.
Unbelievable. As depressing as that story is, thank you Matt. People can bash you and this site all they want, but at least you try to keep these crooks and the way they blow money out in the open. Nobody else will try and take these elitist people to task.