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Residents oppose paddleboard sculpture in Shell Lake’s Memorial Park; council delays placement
Summary
Residents told the Shell Lake City Council Sept. 8 that a donated paddleboard sculpture does not fit the meaning of Memorial Park and urged the city to pause placement until a policy and location review; council unanimously voted to postpone placement pending an ad hoc committee review.
Mayor Rowie Hansberger called the Sept. 8, 2025 Shell Lake City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and opened for public comment, where multiple residents urged the council not to locate a donated paddleboard sculpture in Memorial Park.
Several public commenters said the piece conflicts with the park’s commemorative purpose. Resident Jim Kensy, who identified his son’s service in the U.S. Army during his remarks, told the council, "The surfboard is free, our freedom is not," and said the sculpture was inappropriate for a memorial site. George Cusick, a resident, said he supports park activities but not the statue and proposed three options: reject the structure and repurpose funds, donate it to the Shell Lake Arts Center, or accept it but place it elsewhere. Dawn Schrankel said the sculpture "does not represent the Memorial Park," and Kent Wabrowetz said "the statue has no meaning to the city or the park," questioning why the mayor was advocating placement there.
Council discussion reflected those concerns. Council member Dan Harrington asked, "Should we accept it? Where will we put it? I think accepting the sculpture is putting the cart before the horse." Council member Stephen Smith said the Arts Center might take the piece but added council members should know a location before accepting it. Council member Steve Byrd said the public should have input and noted that donated seating would be a separate donation.
Council member Mike Andrews moved for a privileged motion to postpone any decision on acceptance or placement until an ad hoc committee meets to determine location and cost. The motion, seconded and then approved by roll call, passed unanimously (Smith, Andrews, Byrd, Schultz, Harrington, Rasmussen and Anderson voted yes). Mayor Hansberger said she will convene an ad hoc committee to review location and budget details.
What happens next: the council voted to delay placement decisions and to form an ad hoc committee (the committee’s exact membership, budget authority and schedule were not specified at the meeting). The question of whether the city will accept the donated sculpture was not resolved; the matter will return to council when the committee reports.
