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Commission seeks records, inventory and repair plan for public sculptures
Summary
Members discussed unclear ownership and maintenance for several public sculptures (including two pieces moved from another municipality), reviewed vendor bids for base remediation, and agreed to compile an inventory and locate contracts to clarify responsibilities.
The Webster Groves Arts Commission reviewed multiple maintenance and ownership questions for public sculptures and asked staff to locate contracts and assemble a comprehensive inventory.
Committee members raised two specific pieces that were moved from another jurisdiction and said existing records are incomplete. A committee member (Committee member) said city attorney files may include relevant contracts, including one with Webster University concerning a piece referred to as "after hours," and urged staff to search those records to determine ownership and loan status. "There is a contract with Webster University or that after hours piece that's in there," the committee member said, noting that locating the contract could clarify who owns the sculptures.
Members also reviewed a materials bid for remediating the base around a sculpture: the proposal described installing Core10 steel edging, landscape fabric and about two tons of jumbled trap stone with a materials price listed as $1,105 (the vendor noted labor was not included); members compared that to a prior quote of roughly $2,500 and debated whether to fund base remediation or to prioritize new acquisitions. They discussed the need to identify underground electrical lines before any edging work and suggested parks staff evaluate whether in-house repairs are feasible.
Several sculptures — described in the meeting as having cracked fiberglass/glass elements — likely need repair. Members agreed to create a spreadsheet inventory including locations, artist contacts, last maintenance and contract copies, and to ask the city attorney or clerk for historic files and contracts. One commissioner said the commission should define inspection frequency and whether the commission or the city bears long-term maintenance costs.
Next steps: staff will search attorney/clerk records for acquisition contracts, the commission will compile a maintenance spreadsheet, and parks staff will be asked to advise about potential in-house repairs and electrical issues. No formal votes were taken on contractor selection at this meeting.
