Agenda 09/13/2022 Item #16H 1 (Sculpture Donation to Marco Island Historical Society)09/13/2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to donate a historically significant sculpture from the Deltona era to the Marco
Island Historical Society.
OBJECTIVE: To cooperatively share the important responsibility of the preservation of cultural heritage
with community partner organizations.
CONSIDERATIONS: In 1965, the Deltona Corporation established its sales offices on Marco Island.
This office was easily recognized by the soaring bird sculpture featured prominently above the Marco
Island Sales Office sign on the property. After the offices closed and in the 1990s, the sculpture was
moved to the corner of South Heathwood Drive and Mistletoe Court, in front of the Marco Branch
Library, where it resided for the next several decades. In 2012, the Marco Island Historical Museum, a
partnership between the Museum Division and the Marco Island Historical Society, opened across
Mistletoe Court from the Library.
Hurricane Irma passed over Marco Island on September 10, 2017. The storm left a significant amount of
debris on the island, including on the area where the bird sculpture was displayed. Library, Museum, and
Historical Society staff worked cooperatively to extract the sculpture from the debris. The sculpture
sustained minor damage from the storm, but mostly it showed the wear, staining, and corrosion typical to
an outdoor sculpture.
After Hurricane Irma, Library staff decided they were not the best custodians to continue to care for the
sculpture. The Museum and the Historical Society were interested in keeping the sculpture for its
historical value and representation of the Deltona era of the Marco Island’s history. The Museum took the
sculpture into temporary custody in November 2018. Since then, the item has been added to the Library
Division’s asset inventory and subsequently transferred to that of the Museum Division. The Museum has
not formally accessioned (accepted into the Museum collection) the sculpture.
The partners have determined that the Marco Island Historical Society is the best ultimate custodian of the
sculpture. While the Museum Division’s collection covers the history of all of Collier County, the Marco
Island Historical Society specifically cares for and owns objects relevant to Marco Island’s history. Most
of the collection items on display at the Marco Island Historical Museum belong to the MIHS. The MIHS
will fund the necessary conservation to repair, stabilize, and refinish the sculpture and plans to display it
in the Modern Marco gallery.
FISCAL IMPACT: This donation will decrease the County’s fiscal liability by transferring the long-
term care responsibility of this item to the Marco Island Historical Society. Needed conservation work for
the object has been estimated between $12,000 and $15,000.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as to
form and legality and requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no growth management impact associated with this
item.
RECOMMENDATION: To donate the Deltona-era bird sculpture to the Marco Island Historical
Society.
Prepared by: Commissioner LoCastro, District 1
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09/13/2022
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.H.1
Doc ID: 23070
Item Summary: Recommendation to donate a historically significant sculpture from the Deltona
era to the Marco Island Historical Society. (Commissioner LoCastro)
Meeting Date: 09/13/2022
Prepared by:
Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager – County Manager's Office
Name: MaryJo Brock
08/11/2022 9:14 AM
Submitted by:
Title: Sr. Operations Analyst – County Manager's Office
Name: Geoffrey Willig
08/11/2022 9:14 AM
Approved By:
Review:
Office of Management and Budget Debra Windsor Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 08/11/2022 11:50 AM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 08/15/2022 9:34 AM
Office of Management and Budget Susan Usher Additional Reviewer Completed 08/22/2022 3:17 PM
County Manager's Office Amy Patterson Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 09/06/2022 6:08 PM
Board of County Commissioners Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending 09/13/2022 9:00 AM
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