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Trustees and resident clash over Phoebe Hearst statue placement, pedestal size and transparency
Summary
At the Jan. 5 special meeting, trustees and resident Rose Nyman debated where to site a Phoebe Hearst statue, concerns about sprinkler corrosion and a roughly 3,000-pound granite pedestal; the disagreement led Trustee Bobbie Frank to leave the meeting.
Trustee Bobbie Frank expressed frustration at a perceived lack of transparency around plans for a Phoebe Hearst statue and questioned why the trustees could not see a picture of the sculpture, raising objections to removing a lilac bush if the statue were placed at the corner of 4th and Main Streets.
Rose Nyman, listed as other present, pushed back that secrecy was intended to avoid interpersonal problems that hampered past projects and urged trustees to choose a placement that would not expose the bronze to sprinkler minerals. "I did not vote against the HRB placing the statue at the library," Ms. Nyman said, and circulated photos of the statue mold while describing the project’s materials and siting considerations.
Director Sam Walters cited a "cone of vision" road‑safety requirement at intersections as one constraint on corner placement, while Trustee Kurt Wyant noted that former librarian Marian Geil had suggested an alternative site along Main Street and that pedestal height was also a factor. Ms. Nyman described the granite pedestal as roughly 3,000 pounds and the statue as roughly 360 pounds; Trustee Marsha Miller asked about the cost of the granite base and about funding sources.
Tensions between Ms. Nyman and Trustee Frank escalated. After a disagreement over Ms. Nyman’s role in the statue project, Trustee Frank left the meeting. Trustee Miller urged cooperation, saying both Frank and Nyman "love Anaconda and want the best for it," and said members of the Historical Resources Board and the library trustees need to regroup and work together.
No formal vote or decision on statue placement or pedestal height occurred at the meeting. Trustees noted there is still time to settle the location before the statue is expected to be delivered in spring or summer.
