Linn supervisors debate details of public art idea

The Linn County supervisors may agree that restored county buildings should include public art, but the specifics are up in the air.

The ordinance as it's drafted now would authorize the supervisors to appoint a nine-member public art commission that would use 1 percent of the cost of each major county building project to hire artists to create original work for the buildings.

Supervisor Brent Oleson wants to scale back the ordinance to give supervisors the freedom to decide which buildings will get public art, and what percentage of each project will pay for it.

The supervisors had hoped to hold a first reading of the ordinance on Wednesday, but Assistant County Attorney Susie Nehring said if the board is in favor of Oleson's idea, the document will have to be completely rewritten.

“It really takes out the idea of an across-the-board commitment,” Nehring said.

Oleson argued that his proposal isn't that dramatic. It calls for the supervisors to designate which projects will include public art, and to decide in concert with the commission whether to go up or down from 1 percent.

“One percent would be the guidepost,” he said.

The supervisors plan to discuss the ordinance again Wednesday.