Arts Committee approves up-to-$1,000 cap to repair Portage sculpture damaged by hail

The Middleton Arts Committee voted to cap spending at $1,000 to repair the Portage sculpture after members reviewed an estimate from the artist studio.

Abby, who summarized city staff notes and the estimate, said the mileage estimate was $412.56 and the standard federal per-diem rate requested by the artists was $178 per artist per day. Abby said the committee had previously approved up to $500 and that the studio had planned to travel to do the repair; the new estimate exceeded that amount. She added that the city could cover costs from the non‑lapsing fund if operating-budget dollars were insufficient.

Committee members discussed paying a single day of per diem plus mileage rather than two days’ per diem. After discussion, a motion to cap the repair budget at $1,000 was made and seconded; the motion carried by voice vote with no opposition recorded. Katie, who ran the meeting and accepted the vice chair role earlier in the session, confirmed, “We will cap the repair budget at $1,000.”

The committee noted the artist will travel to perform repairs and add replacement glass fish before the night market; the studio is scheduled to be on site Thursday, June 25. The committee instructed staff to proceed within the $1,000 cap and to use the non‑lapsing fund if needed for payment.

No formal amendment to the motion was recorded; the mover and seconder were not specified in the transcript. The committee did not record individual roll‑call vote tallies in the minutes beyond a unanimous voice vote in favor.