Advisory board authorizes up-to-15% tariff contingency to secure Gilliamark sculpture

The Martin County Art and Public Places advisory board authorized a not-to-exceed tariff contingency of up to 15% to complete purchase of a sculpture offered by Gilliamark for $33,000, a staff presenter said. The board approved the contingency by motion and voice vote and directed staff to present the purchase to the Board of County Commissioners on August 12.

Alyce Raffa, the county’s community development coordinator, told the advisory board that Gilliamark changed its earlier loan offer and instead offered to sell the sculpture to the county for $33,000 plus any applicable tariffs. Raffa said shipping was included in the $33,000 price but that tariffs — which staff expected to be 10% — would be assessed on the sculpture portion of the cost. Staff estimated an additional charge of about $4,125 if the tariff proved to be 15% and asked the advisory board to approve a not-to-exceed range of 10–15% so staff could finalize the purchase before the county commission’s next meeting.

Raffa said the tariff situation was uncertain because classifications can change and because the piece, while bronze, includes copper elements; a 50% tariff applies to copper in some categories, so staff sought the contingency to avoid being unable to complete the contract if tariffs rose. Staff said they expected the tariff to remain at 10% but could not guarantee the rate until changes effective around August 1.

A board member asked whether the purchase would give the county permanent ownership; Raffa confirmed the county would own the sculpture permanently once purchased. She said the sculpture’s typical retail value is roughly $132,000, but Gilliamark offered the piece to the county for $33,000.

A motion to accept up to a 15% tariff above the purchase price was made and seconded; the advisory board approved the motion by voice vote. The meeting transcript records the motion and a unanimous “Aye,” but does not provide a roll-call tally of individual votes.

Board members and staff discussed logistics and community outreach: staff had held a Zoom meeting with the artist’s studio in Sydney, Australia, and noted a concurrent temporary exhibit in Miami where the artist’s works are on view. Raffa said staff hoped to present the purchase on the Board of County Commissioners consent agenda on August 12.

The advisory board’s authorization does not, by itself, complete the purchase; it delegated authority to proceed subject to the tariff contingency and to present the purchase and costs to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval. Because the final tariff amount will be set by customs rules effective around August 1, the purchase carries implementation risk until that determination is known.