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.