Although the funding is unclear, the Dunkirk Common Council unanimously backed construction of a permanent enclosure for “Whispering Giant” earlier this month.

The wood-carved statue depicting a Native American has stood next to Lake Shore Drive West since 1973. Battered by nearby Lake Erie, the statue had to be restored by sculptor Peter Toth in 2014. A series of temporary enclosures has protected it in winter ever since.

The council’s resolution originally specified that the funding will come from future grant money, but Councilwoman Nancy Nichols objected to that. She said money was earmarked by council committees from American Rescue Plan Act funds in 2021.

“I don’t know how it got all switched around where now we have the word ‘grant’ in there. I mean, we don’t really want to wait any longer to get this protective enclosure created,” Nichols said.

Treasurer Mark Woods stated that he checked old minutes and there was discussion in the committees, but no resolution to earmark the enclosure funding from the entire council. “There are no ARPA funds available for that,” he said.

The treasurer suggested getting a firm estimate on the cost and then figuring out the funding. “We really don’t know, Mark, because all I was looking for was permission to create this thing so we could come up with some kind of a figure of what the materials would cost,” Nichols said.

“That’s what we should have first,” Woods said.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to do all along and no one was listening to me,” replied Nichols.

City Attorney Michael Bobseine said a little later, “We think there may be some ways through this, depending on what the design looks like and gets priced down as.” He noted there is a fund with the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation that could be used for the enclosure.

“I thought there was a resolution. Apparently, there isn’t a resolution. It’s August, let’s move forward with this,” Councilman James Stoyle said.

Woods said there was about $10,000 in the NCCF fund. “It’s a start,” Nichols said. “I’m sure if the mayor might squeeze the barrel there, he could find a couple thousand more if we needed it.”

“Let’s cut to the chase, the biggest thing we need to do is find out how much this thing will cost,” said Councilman at Large David Damico. That will be dependent on the enclosure’s design, which is supposed to be done by Code Enforcement Officer Glenn Christner.