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City Commission approves acceptance of donated 'Paul Rivere' statue for downtown display
Summary
The commission approved a donation agreement and resolution to accept a statue titled "Paul Rivere" as a permanent part of the city's collection at 333 Dakota Avenue South. The city will assume maintenance and liability; donors provided delivery plans and sculpture-walk partners will help with placarding and insurance.
The City Commission voted to accept a donated statue titled "Paul Rivere" and to authorize execution of a donation agreement and a resolution placing the work on city property at 333 Dakota Avenue South.
City legal counsel Shy told the commission the documents before them would transfer title to the city, require the city to display the statue at the specified downtown site unless safety or sight-line concerns arise, and assign maintenance and liability to the city going forward. "This would be a permanent part of the city's collection," Shy said while outlining options if the city later needed to relocate or remove the piece.
Commissioners asked about documentation for valuation and insurance. Commissioner Smith noted an invoice had been shared with staff; Shy said the city would look to insurance for restoration if the statue were damaged and, if repairs proved impractical, the commission would need to appropriate funds to restore or decide other disposition options. Erin (city staff) said the project team is coordinating delivery and tentatively plans an unveiling tied to the downtown event on July 3 if the agreement is approved and delivery proceeds as scheduled.
Donors were acknowledged in the meeting; Rhonda and Doug Clute and a local group referred to in the materials as Forward Hereon are listed as the donors in the donation agreement. The city will also work with Sculpture Walk on placarding and display details, counsel said.
One commissioner said they would abstain from the vote; the motion carried following roll call. The statue is expected to be delivered and installed pending final logistics and any additional insurance steps.
The commission’s action accepts the donation and creates the administrative authority for the city to hold, insure and maintain the piece as public property; any future relocation or removal would require negotiation with the donors or disposition as surplus property if donors do not request return.
