Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson's hometown is going ahead with plans to erect a statue in his honor despite vocal opposition to the Democrat's support of health care reform.

The McCook City Council in August accepted private funds to pay for the statue. The statue will depict Nelson, flanked by his parents, receiving his Eagle Scout award. It will be placed at his boyhood home in this southwest Nebraska town of 8,000.

The private McCook Foundation is paying for the $12,000 project.

Councilman Jerry Calvin said residents upset by Nelson's health care vote don't want the statue.

But Calvin says no taxpayer money is being used and the city must honor its commitment to the artist who's creating the sculpture.