SEELEY LAKE - Due to infringement on the Highway 83 right of way, the blue stick figure at the intersection of Boy Scout Road and Highway 83 in Seeley Lake was removed The red stick figure in front of Lindey’s Prime Steak House and the yellow figure just north of Seeley Lake Motor Lodge will have guy wires adjusted to ensure they are not infringing on the right of way. Sections of rubber hose will also be added to the guy wires as a safety improvement.
This past winter Jackson Hole Public Art (JHPA) worked with Seeley Lake community stakeholders in two workshops to identify opportunities and challenges that a temporary public art installation could address in downtown Seeley Lake. The concept of building stick figures using mill ends was developed to celebrate the “Change Your Pace Seeley Lake” slogan. They were painted blue, red and yellow; blue for the lake, red to represent the heart of downtown and yellow was symbolic of the trails in the area.
Volunteers built and installed the temporary figures July 5 and 6. Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Inc, Lindey’s Prime Steak House and Seeley Lake Motor Lodge were consulted and gave permission for the temporary figures to be installed.
Instead of installing the yellow figure on the Seeley Lake Motor Lodge property, it was placed on Ken Pitman’s land without permission. As of July 25, Pitman gave JHPA permission to adjust the structure, moving it out of the right of way and leave the structure in place, since it is only temporary.
A licensed engineer reviewed and stamped the design and installation technique for the figures. The Montana Locate Company was called and sites were marked to avoid underground power, gas, water and cable lines. The Missoula County GIS maps were consulted to identify sites on private property outside of the MDT right of way.
“It is our responsibility to make sure it is safe and we have all the necessary permits,” said Carrie Geraci, director of JHPA.
Geraci said that without having the area surveyed, they had to go by their best estimate of where the right of way would be based on the county GIS maps.
“We tried to find the balance between making them visible and staying out of the right of way. With the blue one we were not successful,” said Geraci.
While MDT can issue special permits for use of the right of way, MDT Maintenance Chief Steve Felix said JHPA did not apply for a special permit nor would they have likely been approved for the stick figures. Felix said the guy wires and the structural soundness of the figures, especially in the wind, are safety concerns.
The blue figure was disassembled and will not be relocated. The location of the red and yellow figures will be adjusted slightly to ensure they are moved farther away from MDT property lines. They will be taken down this fall before the snow flies.
Questions or concerns please contact Carrie Geraci, director of JH Public Art at 307-413-1474.
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