The cost to preserve 'Rocky the snake' along Point Edward's waterfront during the winter months has proven to be too costly at an estimated $18,000.
The Lambton Area Water Supply System (LAWSS) was recently approached with a request to help foot the bill to winterize the display, but board members voted against the expensive endeavor.
Mayor and LAWSS Board Chair Bev Hand said the price tag of $18,000 included a special type of polyethylene, protective equipment, and labour costs.
"It can stay there for the winter and we'll just say it's hibernating," Hand said. "If anybody's worried about their paint, they could come and pick up their stone and put some preservative over it - like a clear shellac or something. But $18,000 just felt to be too high of a cost when there are so many other needs around."
Community members may be asked to check on their painted stones in the spring to see how they fared over the winter and rearrange the snake as needed.
Hand said no environmental concerns were raised about paint washing from the stones. Over the past several months, the rock snake has created a buzz over social media and has prompted other communities, like Watford, to start one of their own.
Hand said she didn't expect the initiative to take off like it did.
"It brought people out together, and a lot of those stones have personal messages and that's what makes it really interesting," she said.
There has been interest in expanding the rock snake next year further down the waterfront, onto municipal property, but Hand said the matter would have to be discussed with council at a later time