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Historical Museum seeking more cash

Following a meeting with county supervisors, trustees of the San Joaquin County Historical Society revealed Tuesday why former Historical Museum director Michael Bennett is no longer with the society. During the meeting, trustees announced that the museum needs more county support to operate.

"(Bennett) was terminated by the board because of a conflict with trustees," trustee Tim Hackman told the San Joaquin News Service.

Bennett, who previously declined to talk to the San Joaquin News Service, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

In January, he took a position as the executive director for the Fund for the California State Mining and Mineral Museum in Mariposa, according to a curator at the park. The Fund is a nonprofit that raises money for a new museum at the state park.

Hackman told supervisors during the meeting it is the society's goal to have a new director by the end of the summer.

"I'm the chairman of the search committee for a new director," Hackman said. "We are in the process of drafting qualifications we want from a new museum director."

The museum, at Micke Grove Park near Lodi, was opened in 1966 by the county and historical society. This year marks its 40th anniversary, and the society will celebrate the occasion by opening a four-building agricultural-equipment exhibit March 18.

However, trustees are worried that the society cannot pay for the museum's utility and landscaping bills.

After the society asked the county for $195,000 in 2006-07 —$54,000 more than the amount the county gave it last year — supervisors asked to meet with trustees and find out where the increased need came from and whether Bennett's departure had anything to do with it.

Hackman said he could not say any more about the disagreement because Bennett has hired an attorney and is considering whether to sue the society.

San Joaquin County supervisors cannot vote to increase or decrease the county historical society's budget until June, when budgets for all departments are determined.

"We hope, when the proper time comes, the board will give proper consideration to our requests," Hackman said.

"The museum is healthy," trustee Gary Kristofferson said. "Donations are up, and volunteerism is up."

Last year, the society — which has only five full-time employees and about 90 volunteers and docents — raised $80,000 in donations, and the new agricultural exhibits were paid for entirely with donations, he said.

"But, despite strong private community support, we have many financial challenges," Kristofferson said. "The county's support has been decreasing."

The museum is on county land, and some of the buildings that house exhibits are also county-owned.

The museum's annual budget is about $550,000. For this fiscal year, only $141,000 was provided by the county.

According to county documents, two decades ago the county gave the historical society as much as $200,000 annually to run the museum, and that was at a time when the museum had significantly fewer costs, Kristofferson said.

Since most museum buildings belong to the county, historical society trustees believe the county should pick up more of the cost to run them.

"It's a unique relationship the museum has with the county," he said. "Thousands of students and residents have benefited from the museum."

Contact reporter Roman Gokhman at romang@tracypress.com.

First published: Wednesday, March 8, 2006