CARMEL - An $80,000 sculpture for the middle of a Carmel roundabout - that's what's headed to 136th and Rangeline Road. Corporate taxpayers are footing the bill.
The roundabout at 136th and Rangeline Road in Carmel is not much to look at. That changes next month when a sculpture will be added to the center.
"Basically it serves as the entrance or gateway to the Carmel arts and design district," said Melanie Lentz, Carmel Redevelopment Commission.
It's a gateway that comes with an $80,000 price tag, which the Carmel Redevelopment Commission is using tax dollars to pay for.
"It is corporate tax dollars, not property or individual tax dollars," Lentz explained.
Some Carmel residents like Mike Fox believe the city needs to hit the brakes on the spending.
"Sounds like a lot of money to spend on something that's cosmetic like that," he said.
Another concern about locating the art in the roundabout is that it's already difficult to maneuver. A sculpture could be another distraction for drivers.
"We've had several incidents where poles have been down. Street signs have been down," said John Accetturo, Carmel City Council.
Tire marks are prevalent where vehicles haven't made the turn. To Accetturo, that money could be better spent improving this roundabout
"Arts are important to our community. Obviously there's a lot of support out there but there's also a lot of support for having good intersections and roundabouts that function," he said.
There are other concerns, like the fact that the artist Brad Howe hails from Los Angeles.
"I'm surprised that there isn't a sculptor in the state of Indiana that's worthy of the commission and we have to take taxpayer dollars and go to California to find a piece to put in that roundabout," said Rick Sharp, Carmel City Council.
There are also four statues which have been paid for, but are sitting in storage.
"I question why we bought the statues and they're sitting in a warehouse. I mean, are we ever going to take these statues out?" said Accetturo.
Eyewitness News asked Carmel Redevelopment spokeswoman Melanie Lentz about the statues and about the safety issues at 136th and Rangeline.
"That's a good question but unfortunately I wouldn't know the answer to that. Basically I just know that it will serve as an entrance or gateway to Carmel's arts and design district," she said.
As far as choosing an LA artist, "I think that they just looked at the abstract sculpture they thought it would be a nice addition to our current collection," Lentz said.
Though questions continue to go round and round, the sculpture is on schedule to stand despite the controversy.
When we asked why a Hoosier artist was not chosen, we were told that the California artist's abstract style fit well with the current statues and sculptures in place.
The City Council has zero oversight concerning spending from the Carmel Redevelopment Commission. Senate Bill 550 would have changed that but it died in the Indiana House of Representatives last year.
