Jummel Hidrosollo / Special to the Home News
Artist Steven Ligouri stands next to his creation of “Alabam” that was paid for by city redevelopment funds.
Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008 | 1:31 p.m.
Boulder City postponed spending $60,000 on a bronze sculpture this month and next month is scheduled to debate discontinuing its annual art purchase entirely.
The City Council Dec. 9 voted unanimously not to spend the Redevelopment Agency money on art this fiscal year, which ends June 30. It also decided to discuss future purchases at the redevelopment meeting in January.
The council had planned to commission a work by Sutton Betti, a Colorado sculptor whose Web site displays mostly Grecian-type and winged figures.
The city has purchased two bronze sculptures for the city with redevelopment money — the first by Stephen Ligouri, installed at the corner of Nevada Way and Ash Street, and the second by Roy Butler, installed in front of City Hall.
Councilwoman Linda Strickland said after the city cut hours for part-time employees this month and is cutting budgets across the board, spending $60,000 would be inappropriate and irresponsible.
"This is the type of thing you purchase when your city is flush, not the type of thing you buy when your city is suffering," she said.
On Jan. 6, the city will hold a special budget session, and will discuss eliminating the city's yearly bronze sculpture purchase in the future, among other ways to cut costs.
"Until this economic crisis passes and we can say to the people of this community, we now have significant money, we need to hold their feet to the fire on these expenditures," Strickland said.
Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or [email protected].
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