More than 40 years ago, the City of Niles received through a donation a sculpture from internationally renowned artist Richard Hunt, whose works appear in collections and museums from New York to France.

Hybrid Form II, as it is called, sat near the Main Street Bridge in downtown Niles until 2015 when the sculpture was removed during a construction project to replace the bridge.

Although the bridge construction has been finished for several months, the sculpture remains in storage as city officials and art enthusiasts determine where to place it. The topic came up for discussion at Monday’s regular city council meeting.

Jeanne Watson, speaking as chairperson of city’s recently formed Public Art Commission, requested that the sculpture be placed in the grassy area east of the bridge between the rain garden and the landscaping near the Front Street parking lot. Watson said Hunt himself recommended the location during a visit to the city in April.

Watson also asked the city to consider paying for a $15,000 concrete slab needed for the sculpture to rest upon.

She said Hunt’s sculpture would serve as a bookend to the proposed Tuck Langland sculpture the commission is attempting to acquire for installation at the Niles District Library. She said those sculptures, combined with other art projects planned for the city, could turn Niles into a destination for art lovers.

“I think if we are able to do this we will have tour buses,” she said.

Although no action was taken, Mayor Mike McCauslin requested that the council provide some direction about where the sculpture will be placed and how much, if any, resources the city would devote to it.

Watson said the art commission, which formed two years ago, has raised approximately $3,000, but most of the money was used to host two art presentations at the library in recent months.

Councilman Tim Skalla suggested that the council wait to make a decision about the sculpture until after council members get to see numbers for the most recent city budget.

“I think we would have a better idea of where we stand,” Skalla said.

City Administrator Ric Huff said preliminary numbers for the budget would be available during the city’s next council meeting on June 27.

The council determined to table the discussion about the sculpture until then.

The estimated worth of the Hunt sculpture is $300,000, according to the art commission.