It appears the United Tribes Technical College's annual public sculpture project won't be completed this year after the Bismarck Park Board tabled the issue at Thursday's meeting.

It would have been the fifth and last project in the series of sculptures depicting eagles. Instructor Wayne Pruse provided the results of a public vote, which chose a metal sculpture designed by students Tina Curley, Kristina Kalenze and E.J. Red Bear, titled "The Keeper."

The sculpture received 31 of the 64 votes cast, while two other projects, "The Spirit Cloud" and "Watching Over You," split the remaining votes. Pruse said all three projects would involve construction concerns, but he said "The Keeper" was definitely doable.

Park board member John Sagsveen asked the other board members what they thought, and said he was reluctant to go into the project without an arts policy.

The Dakota West Arts Council is working on a process to develop a public arts policy, but a timeline is sketchy, and it is expected to take some time before a final policy is developed, approved and adopted.

"I've received more calls on this than the swimming pool," board member Paul Quist said. "Having seen what the students have done … this is really a good thing for the students. But the majority of calls are saying they do not want it funded with taxpayer dollars. I had a number of negative responses and that's what I'm acting on tonight."

Board member Jennifer DeForest disagreed with Sagsveen and Quist.

"I think we made a commitment. What the taxpayers are paying is a minimum considering all the labor is donated. Other cities put a lot more money into their art projects that beautify the city and gets the arts out there," DeForest said. "I personally feel we should approve the sculpture, and move to do so."

Sagsveen seconded the motion to allow for discussion. He noted that he didn't agree to a proposed moratorium on public art, but in this case, since they had been working so long on it, he wanted to wait until the policy was completed.

"I know it's important to the students, but the arts policy is important, too," Sagsveen said. "I'd like to have staff push the arts policy along as well as they can."

Board member Mike Gilbertson stated that under no circumstances was he against public art.

"I see its importance. However, at least in this issue, the board has to stop being its own worst enemy. When we come to an agreement on an arts policy, let's then look at it," Gilbertson said. "I'm not shutting out the sculptures. But until we have an arts policy, I can't in good conscience vote for it."

DeForest's motion failed on a 3-2 vote.

Quist made the motion to table approval of the sculpture until there is an arts policy to provide a guideline. In seconding the motion, Sagsveen asked staff to expedite the process any way they can. The motion passed 3-2.

"I look forward to seeing the sculpture and hope it can be built," Gilbertson said. "We're going through the process of writing this policy; we held a forum; let's get done and work through it that way. I look forward to the day it's completed."

Board president Mark Zimmerman told the UTTC students not to take the decision as a rejection of the project. He also asked the Dakota West Arts Council to move ahead, though they were finding the issue difficult, even to develop a process.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)