Trustees approve ChacoSpark art design contract 5–2 after debate over timing

The Carbondale Board of Trustees voted 5–2 to approve a $7,000 professional-services contract to design integrated art for the ChacoSpark park.

Trustees debated whether commissioning art design now would create sunk costs if the broader park budget changes. Trustee Ross questioned committing money for the art component "when we don't have a budget for the rest of the project" and warned that early design work could lock a specific footprint and complicate later budget decisions. Town staff responded that the design work is intended to produce construction documents and accurate cost estimates that will feed into the project budget and bidding process.

Ryan, a town staff member, told the board the design contract is meant to create a fabrication-ready package so the town can "figure out what these potential costs are" and then incorporate that figure into an overall budget. The contract was pulled from the consent agenda for discussion, then approved after a motion by Jess and a second from Kate. The chair noted the contract is for $7,000 and praised the selected artist, saying, "I think Matt Hayes is an amazing artist," while acknowledging the concerns raised.

The approval authorizes the town to proceed with the art design phase; trustees said the full project budget and bid documents will come back to the board for review as staff compiles total costs.