The City of Mount Vernon tabled action on funding for phase 3 of the sculpture arts trail.
The city approved funding for the first batch of artwork for the trails in 2022, a joint venture between the Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation committee and Mount Vernon Area Arts Council (MVAAC). Marie DeVries said that the committee bought three sculptures for the first batch of the trail.
MVAAC received funds from the State of Iowa arts for the second phase of the arts trail ($10,000), and MVAAC contributed ($5,000) and has selected a second piece of art for the trail from Amy Jacobson of Kansas City.
“It will be a stainless steel dragonfly flying over grassy area,” DeVries said.
DeVries and the arts council were seeking funding from the council for phase three of the sculpture art trail for the next piece to be installed, with a request of $10,000. MVAAC and additional donors would help with the art on the trails project.
Council member Paul Tuerler, who voiced concerns with the first batch of funding for the arts trail, again raised concerns with the continued use of sculptures along Nature Park.
“I feel installing these pieces along a trail in Nature Park is contrary to what Nature Park has always been in this community,” Tuerler said.
Parks and recreation director Matt Sidders said that there are plans for the trail to continue between First Street and Third Street, and then potentially on the trail north of First Street heading towards the Skate Park. The Bryant Road segment of trail is another area for future sculpture trails as the Interurban Trail comes to fruition.
Tuerler said he felt it is appropriate for pieces on either end of Nature Park Trail (including the entrance on Seventh Street on the north, but he worries about the impact of the sanctity of the original Nature Park with additional sculptures.
DeVries said that the current sculptures have actually increased trail use by drawing attention to a stretch of trail in the city’s trail system.
Tuerler’s other concern was spending money from Local Option Sales and Service Tax on the art.
“If you spend LOSST money on art, it’s money lost to trails,” Tuerler said. “The money in LOSST was designated for trails, and I feel it should be spent on improving existing trails. Any time we spend $10,000 on something like this, it reduces the trails budget we have currently.”
Tuerler said he has no problem with the art, the sculptures selected have been beautiful and he supports the concept, but he does not support the funding mechanism being used to make the trail a reality.
Steve Maravetz, MVAAC member and Sculpture Trail project member, said they are wanting to continue with the diversity of materials used in these sculptures along the trail as well.
Council member Scott Rose said that he views the funding for the trails as justified, as this enhances the trails in a different way.
Council member Craig Engel asked if the funding has to come from the LOSST monies for the project and where funding came for the art piece at Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center.
City administrator Chris Nosbisch said yes, without coming from LOSST, there is not a funding mechanism the city would be able to pull $10,000 from for this project.
“Trails and sculpture art are tangible examples of the council and the City of Mount Vernon shaping culture of the community,” Engel said. “I think voters also voted for us to be good stewards of helping to shape the culture of this community, and with it’s close relationship to the sculpture walk, I think that falls into that category of a good use of LOSST funds.”
“One of the reasons we received a grant from the state is we had initiated the trail with support from the City of Mount Vernon,” Devries said. “They liked the fact there is an actual trail.”
Mayor Tom Wieseler asked if there might need to be a moratorium on spending on this to get used to a new budget cycle after the rollback was made.
Tuerler also asked if there are trails under development by the city.
Siders said they are replenishing the fund currently for trail projects, with work recently completed on Nature Park.
Nosbisch said that if the Interurban Trail were to have made a good amount of work committed by Linn County in the next few years, then the city would be designating trail funds for that stretch of trail connection along Bryant Road from now until 2034.
Engel said that any trail we discuss with current development moving forward could set aside a dollar amount for potential art as well as part of their development.
The council tabled any action on funding of the trails at the moment.