Wheeling trustees may put art project on hold

The plans for public art at the new Wheeling village hall site might be shot down over concerns of spending money in the current economy.

The village board decided in March to commission the Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt-Amrany, which has done the statues of Michael Jordan outside the United Center and Harry Caray at Wrigley Field, for the artwork.

However, on Monday, several trustees said the money might be spent better elsewhere - at least for the time being.

"I think the timing's terrible," Trustee Dean Argiris said, referring to the fact that the board also listened to a presentation on the village's financial state earlier in the meeting. During that presentation, finance director Michael Mondschain said Wheeling is looking at lower-than-expected sales tax returns so far and an overall deficit at the end of the year.

"I have a real problem spending money for this item," Trustee Judy Abruscato said.

The trustees eventually decided to ask the artist for a budget for a 25- to 30-foot statue and decide from there when and if to commission the artwork.

Most of the board agreed that they would like to see the project be put on hold for a couple of years.

The board still narrowed down the design of the project, picking between two proposals that both outlined Wheeling's roots and hopes for the future.

The trustees chose between a tree design with roots growing from a globe and evolving to figures of children, which represent the future of the town, and an abstract piece that stuck with the same theme of representing Wheeling's past and future.

With Abruscato dissenting, the board agreed to tentatively get financial details of the tree design.

The board will discuss the project further after the artist plans a budget for the piece. The new village hall is scheduled to open in 2009.