Planning commission approves River Edge Trail sculpture funded by Alexander foundations

The Planning Commission of the City of Wausau on Sept. 16 approved a proposal to place a bronze sculpture on the River Edge Trail and forwarded the recommendation to City Council as part of the usual review process for dedications.

The Arts Commission and Parks and Recreation Committee had both recommended approval; city staff said two private foundations would fund the sculpture and requested limited city assistance with relocating on-site boulders and running electricity to power a base spotlight.

Brueggemann, a planning commissioner, moved to approve the sculpture; Commissioner Watson seconded. The motion carried. Planning staff noted that the commission did not record a vote for Commissioner Larson because he arrived late to that item.

Bridal, city staff, summarized the Arts Commission recommendation and identified the Walter Alexander Foundation and the Judd S. Alexander Foundation as the funders. She said the foundations “are funding the sculpture in its entirety” and asked the city to relocate existing boulders and run electricity to the sculpture’s base.

On maintenance, Bridal said the sculpture would be bronze and likely require annual washing and waxing similar to an existing bronze kayaker sculpture downtown; she told commissioners that maintenance could be done in-house or contracted out and estimated cleaning costs “a couple $100 to maybe a thousand dollars each time per sculpture,” depending on the contractor and how often the city chooses to clean. She said the sculptor would build the piece within about 11 months and that a first cleaning likely would not be required for at least a year after installation.

Staff also noted that the commission’s review stems from a statute the city has cited previously requiring that dedications of statues and memorials come before the planning commission and then go to City Council. The commission approved the recommendation to proceed; Council will receive the planning commission’s recommendation for final action.

The project footprint is near a proposed residential Vanguard development and will sit on the river side of the trail; staff said the only site elements to be relocated are some boulders currently at the proposed location.

The commission did not take a final budget or maintenance-commitment vote; questions about long-term maintenance and potential contracting will be addressed in staff follow-up as the project advances to Council.