Cuyahoga County committee advances three Monument Commission reappointments; $89,000 maintenance contract and inventory work outlined

The Cuyahoga County Council Human Resources, Appointments & Equity Committee advanced three county executive reappointments to the Cuyahoga County Monument Commission and heard an update on the commission nd planned maintenance work.

Chris Alvarado, speaking on behalf of the county executive, recommended the reappointments of Patty Chobie, Patrick W. Hewitt and Matthew Reimer to three‑year terms on the Monuments Commission, each to run Sept. 1, 2025, through Aug. 31, 2028. The committee moved each nomination to the full council under second‑reading suspension for final confirmation.

Patrick W. Hewitt, identified in the meeting as planning manager with the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, told the committee the commission is responsible for the care of county‑owned monuments and that its inventory now lists 34 county monuments. Hewitt said the commission has built a website, formalized an application and review process for new monuments, and worked with conservators and the city of Cleveland planning commission on the recently approved Siegel and Shuster Tribute Plaza donation.

Matthew Reimer, facilities administrator with the Department of Public Works and the public‑works representative on the commission, said the county contracted with McKay Lodge, a conservator based in Oberlin, on a maintenance plan with a contract value not to exceed $89,000. "89,000 is the contract value, not to exceed value to McKay Lodge. We have not expended any of that money yet, but we do have active proposals, of approximately 55,000 for the initial assessment," Reimer said. He said the $89,000 was provided to Public Works through a fiscal agenda last year from general fund dollars and that Public Works will hold and manage the contract and funds for the assessment work.

Committee members asked how future maintenance will be funded. Reimer said the completed maintenance plan will include recommended budget values for ongoing sustainment and that funding requests would come through future budget cycles. Hewitt and Reimer said the Monuments Commission is volunteer and unpaid and that the maintenance assessment will identify whether repairs are needed and whether future budget requests will be necessary.

Hewitt said the commission recently reviewed and approved the Siegel and Shuster Tribute Plaza (also referred to in the meeting as the Superman Statue), whose unveiling is scheduled for Aug. 2; Hewitt said the event is hosted by the Siegel and Shuster Society and described it as a private event. He also said the county's initial inventory began at about 26 monuments and expanded as staff identified additional county‑owned assets.

The committee also heard that the initial inventory used the county's insurance policy as a starting point and that the insurance/values will be refined as the inventory and assessments are completed. Committee members asked whether the county insures the collection; attendees said the county law department provides insurance oversight and that the inventory was built from the county's insurance listings.

The committee advanced the three resolutions (20250247, 20250248 and 20250249) confirming the county executive's reappointments to the full council under second‑reading suspension so the nominations can be considered for final approval.