After discussion of a Thomas Dambo trolls art sculpture, valued up to $355,000, was put on hold earlier this month in Cayce, a special meeting was scheduled for Monday, April 27, to continue the discussion, and the public is encouraged to attend. 

According to a press release from the city, Monday's special called meeting will provide an overview of the proposed agreement, information on project costs and funding structure, insight into expected economic and community impacts, and an opportunity for public comment.

At the April 7 Cayce City Council meeting, council members were set to discuss a contractual agreement in executive session, but Councilman Byron Thomas motioned to remove the item from the agenda, and the motion carried.

No action was taken after executive session.

The April 7 agenda words the executive session item pertaining to the Dambo project in this way: “Discussion of negotiations incident to a proposed contractual arrangement with artist Thomas Dambo for the creation and installation of public art within the City, including at the Riverwalk or another City location, and receipt of related legal advice, as permitted by the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.”

Dambo, a Danish artist, is known for large art installations, with his trolls ranging in size from that of an average adult to much larger. In one of the pictures the city used for its Facebook post announcing the project earlier this year, the troll sculpture appears to be the height of a grown man. Dambo's "Daddy Bird Eye" troll in Dix Park, Raleigh, N.C., however, appears to be much larger.

The price of the potential upcycled art sculpture was met with mixed opinions from the public during the recent council meeting.

One Cayce resident said, “I did my own research but couldn’t find a city close to the size of Cayce that had [a sculpture].”

A few cities in North Carolina have a Dambo troll, including Charlotte, High Point and Raleigh. The most recent Census data shows Cayce as having over 13,700 residents, while Charlotte has over 874,500, High Point has over 114,000 and Raleigh has over 467,500. 

An article from a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, news source reported that a Dambo troll unveiled in Wauwatosa cost about $365,000, including installation. Wauwatosa, Wis., has a population of almost 48,800. 

The Cayce resident also questioned maintenance, recruiting volunteers to help build it and potential traffic issues.

“We’re not Raleigh or Charlotte. I want to know about economic development. For something as important as this is to some people,” he said, “I think the least we can do is truly inform the people of this city what the trolls are all about. I don’t know if this is the time. We’ve got to put the people first.”

Another Cayce resident spoke during the public forum and said the potential project should be discussed more openly. 

“I don’t think anyone will travel just to Cayce to see the trolls,” he said. “People would stay in Columbia, the Vista. I think the money could be better spent. I think the money would be better spent on improving what we have and not on the trolls.”

A Cayce arts guild member and resident vocalized support for the sculpture during the meeting.

“My family and I have seen pieces in person and they look amazing,” she said. “It’s such a tourist attraction. It’s made with recycled wood.”

Cayce leaders announced the potential Thomas Dambo art piece earlier this year and said the trolls have proven economic impacts.

A press release from the city said cities comparable to Cayce in size report park visitation increases of up to 60%, along with estimated economic impacts ranging from $1.5 million to $5 million over a three- to five-year period.

A list of art sculptures and their locations can be found on Thomas Dambo’s website.

“Money meant to support events and investments like this is meant to bring money and people in,” Mayor Elise Partin told the Chronicle earlier this year. Of grant funding and hospitality tax money, she also said, “There’s a pot of money used only for things like this and nothing else we could spend money on that would bring that kind of return of investments. It’s a really cool opportunity.”

If the city goes through with the project, it would be the first city in South Carolina to have a Dambo installation. It would likely be installed somewhere along the Riverwalk.

Monday's meeting is at 5:30 p.m. at Cayce's city hall, located at 1800 12th St.