The Flossmoor Village Board’s April decision to OK a proposal from the Public Art Commission that includes moving the Secret Garden sculpture from just outside the Flossmoor Public Library to Heather Hill Elementary School in a collection shuffle is still not sitting well with some folks.
At the board’s Monday, May 16, the discussion continued.
Flossmoor resident and former library board member Kathleen Tisoncik spoke May 16 during the village board meeting to say she is concerned about the move.
“That statue has been on the library premises for 20-something years,” Tisoncik said. “It really is part of the identity of the library. I don’t know why it was decided it should be moved, but I really object to it. I think it would be a disservice to the library and the community. … I hope that you will reconsider.”
“Secret Garden,” part of the village’s permanent sculpture collection, is to move as part of an effort to reinvigorate the overall collection and bring a piece to Heather Hill. Trustee George Lofton was the only trustee to vote against the latest collection changes, but several board members shared their apprehension about that particular move.
Trustee Brian Driscoll said May 16 that he was “inundated” with calls over the weekend about the sculpture.
“It’s definitely garnered a lot more interest than I think we first knew when we first tackled it,” he said. “I have not heard from anybody who wants to move it.”
Mayor Michelle Nelson noted she has heard the same.
