By ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Maria Garcia

EL PASO, Texas -- The Civic Center will soon have 14 tall sculptures surrounding its perimeter, but some are concerned that an out-of-town artist was commissioned for the project instead of a local sculptor.

Barbara Grygutis, a sculptor out of Arizona, was commissioned by the city to make the structures.

Twelve of the 14 sculptures are set to go up by the holiday season. The public art project is estimated to cost $363,500. The other two structures are scheduled to be installed in January.

However, government watchdog Lisa Turner said she was concerned that a local artist was not chosen.

"I want my taxpayer money to go to local, talented artists. Why are we using our local money for out-of-towners?" she asked council.

Mayor John Cook said the project had allowed for local artists to compete to be chosen, but in the end, Grygutis had earned the bid.

"We have really talented local artists, but they're not at the level to make these structures yet. They are being apprenticed to get to this point... they were just not ready for a public art project of this scale," said City Representative Susie Byrd.