Museum board to meet with county commission

The board of the county museum discussed during its monthly meeting Monday having another meeting, specifically to address some issues with the Hill County Commission.

Bud Baldwin, chair of the H. Earl and Margaret Turner Clack Memorial Museum, said he had set a meeting with the commission for 1:30 p. m. Friday.

The board agreed that they would discuss issues including the potential for moving the museum to the Hill County Fairgrounds until a new building is constructed and seeing if the county could offer some help or ask Bear Paw Development Corp. to assist the museum board and museum foundation in writing grant applications while seeking funding. They also want to talk about the best way to go about setting up a new building for a visitors center for the Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump archaeological site owned by the county.

Another issue was problems caused by a leaky roof.

John Gilbert, museum manager, told the group that part of low lighting in the museum is caused by damage to the lighting fixtures caused by leaks in the roof. He was responding to a comment from Wahkpa Chu'gn archaeologist John Brumley, who said people had complained to him about the museum being too dark.

"We had eight fixtures, now we have four, " Gilbert said.

He added that he keeps part of the museum in low light because it makes it easier for patrons to take photographs of the displays there.

Gilbert said the leaks causing damage to displays also is a concern. Some of the displays are moved if rains starts to fall and the roof starts leaking, and he added that the Chief Joseph diorama, a major attraction, could be in danger in the future.

Baldwin said he would talk to board member Judi Dritshulas, who could not attend Monday's meeting, to find out what she has learned about the issue. Dritshulas had agreed to talk to the mall management to find out what the owner of the property, Securities National Properties, could do about the roof.

Calls made to the mall manager this morning asking for comment were not returned by deadline.

Elaine Morse, chair of the board of the funding foundation for the museum and the archaeological site, told Gilbert that the foundation owns tarps that he could use to cover displays if they are in danger.

The board also discussed plans to put up a sign telling museum patrons that donations would be accepted.

The members agreed that the term "$1 recommended donation" was too strong, and that the sign use the wording "suggested" or "would be appreciated" instead.

Morse requested that some kind of signage be put up this week about donations.

Gilbert also said that he would like people to make suggestions about displays to be rotated through the museum.

While he was working on a display with former museum manager Antoinette "Toni" Hagener, Gilbert said, she suggested that a display depicting the history of the county fair be in place during the Great Northern Fair. Gilbert said anyone having an idea about other displays that would tie into annual events should let him know.

Baldwin originally asked the group if he should cancel the meeting with the commissioners that primarily was set to discuss budget shortfalls. Because the Clack family has offered to make up the shortfall this year and possibly next, the meeting may not be needed, he said.

The group agreed that the other issues still needed to be discussed.

At its December meeting, the group talked about moving the museum, located in a space leased in the mall, to county-owned property in the fairgrounds. That would help save money while the museum board and its foundation try to raise money, some said.

Museum board member Gary Wilson said that he opposed the idea. It would detract from the educational purpose of the museum by removing it from its current high-traffic location and putting in an out-of-the way place, in a building that likely would have to be upgraded to hold and preserve the exhibits, he said.

The board agreed Monday to raise the topic at the Friday meeting to find out if moving into a building on the fairgrounds is an option. The move would have to be approved by the Hill County Fair Board and the county commission.

Another issue for that agenda was how best to set up a visitors center for Wahkpa Chu'gn.

Brumley said he would like some direction as to whether a center could be set up behind the mall, near the entrance to the bison kill site.

The board of the county museum discussed during its monthly meeting Monday having another meeting, specifically to address some issues with the Hill County Commission.

Bud Baldwin, chair of the H. Earl and Margaret Turner Clack Memorial Museum, said he had set a meeting with the commission for 1:30 p. m. Friday.

The board agreed that they would discuss issues including the potential for moving the museum to the Hill County Fairgrounds until a new building is constructed and seeing if the county could offer some help or ask Bear Paw Development Corp. to assist the museum board and museum foundation in writing grant applications while seeking funding. They also want to talk about the best way to go about setting up a new building for a visitors center for the Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump archaeological site owned by the county.

Another issue was problems caused by a leaky roof.

John Gilbert, museum manager, told the group that part of low lighting in the museum is caused by damage to the lighting fixtures caused by leaks in the roof. He was responding to a comment from Wahkpa Chu'gn archaeologist John Brumley, who said people had complained to him about the museum being too dark.

"We had eight fixtures, now we have four, " Gilbert said.

He added that he keeps part of the museum in low light because it makes it easier for patrons to take photographs of the displays there.

Gilbert said the leaks causing damage to displays also is a concern. Some of the displays are moved if rains starts to fall and the roof starts leaking, and he added that the Chief Joseph diorama, a major attraction, could be in danger in the future.

Baldwin said he would talk to board member Judi Dritshulas, who could not attend Monday's meeting, to find out what she has learned about the issue. Dritshulas had agreed to talk to the mall management to find out what the owner of the property, Securities National Properties, could do about the roof.

Calls made to the mall manager this morning asking for comment were not returned by deadline.

Elaine Morse, chair of the board of the funding foundation for the museum and the archaeological site, told Gilbert that the foundation owns tarps that he could use to cover displays if they are in danger.

The board also discussed plans to put up a sign telling museum patrons that donations would be accepted.

The members agreed that the term "$1 recommended donation" was too strong, and that the sign use the wording "suggested" or "would be appreciated" instead.

Morse requested that some kind of signage be put up this week about donations.

Gilbert also said that he would like people to make suggestions about displays to be rotated through the museum.

While he was working on a display with former museum manager Antoinette "Toni" Hagener, Gilbert said, she suggested that a display depicting the history of the county fair be in place during the Great Northern Fair. Gilbert said anyone having an idea about other displays that would tie into annual events should let him know.

Baldwin originally asked the group if he should cancel the meeting with the commissioners that primarily was set to discuss budget shortfalls. Because the Clack family has offered to make up the shortfall this year and possibly next, the meeting may not be needed, he said.

The group agreed that the other issues still needed to be discussed.

At its December meeting, the group talked about moving the museum, located in a space leased in the mall, to county-owned property in the fairgrounds. That would help save money while the museum board and its foundation try to raise money, some said.

Museum board member Gary Wilson said that he opposed the idea. It would detract from the educational purpose of the museum by removing it from its current high-traffic location and putting in an out-of-the way place, in a building that likely would have to be upgraded to hold and preserve the exhibits, he said.

The board agreed Monday to raise the topic at the Friday meeting to find out if moving into a building on the fairgrounds is an option. The move would have to be approved by the Hill County Fair Board and the county commission.

Another issue for that agenda was how best to set up a visitors center for Wahkpa Chu'gn.

Brumley said he would like some direction as to whether a center could be set up behind the mall, near the entrance to the bison kill site.