UTICA — The Utica Common Council unanimously voted on Wednesday to authorize the construction and placement of a sebil monument that will be gifted to the city by the Bosnian American Community Association. The monument will be erected as a way to thank Utica for welcoming the Bosnian community.

Back on Dec 7, Sandro Sehic and officials with the Bosnian American Community Association met with the council to present their idea of gifting a sebil to the city and to seek authorization in doing so. The association informed the council the monument typically costs just under $119,000 to build and that they would cover 100% of the cost.

According to Sehic, sebils are water fountains that were built throughout the Ottoman Empire from the 15th to 19th century, where it provided water to people, travelers and the local communities. Sebils became a symbol of hope, gratitude, good will and charity, with many Bosnian communities expressing their gratitude by gifting sebil monuments to cities.

The monument the association will build will be a replica of a sebil and not an actual functioning water fountain. On average, sebil monuments are about 20 feet tall.

“This monument will be a symbol of our collective story, showcasing our shared values and history for generations to come,” officials with the Bosnian American Community Association said in a Facebook post the day after the council meeting. “We invite all members of our community to come together to shape this project and join us on this journey of celebration and reflection. We look forward to unveiling this monument in the near future and making it part of the rich tapestry that gives life to our beloved community.”

The sebil monument will be erected at 1399 Albany St. in the east Utica neighborhood, home to a large population of the local Bosnian community.