Despite criticism from some in the community, the Joliet City Council has approved the allocation of $250,000 to the Joliet Area Historical Museum.

Voting against the funding Tuesday were council members Joe Clement, Larry Hug and Jan Quillman, who once served as a liaison to the museum board.

City Manager Beth Beatty made the recommendation to the council to approve the expenditure. The grant will be used for public events and educational programs at the museum, including concerts and the Sunday History program; administration of public operation for tours and special events at the Old Joliet Prison at 1125 Collins St.; and special events at the Joliet Area Museum City Center Campus at 204 N. Ottawa St. and the Union Depot Tower Rail Museum at 100 E. Jefferson St.

The City of Joliet has been funding the museum since its creation in 2002.

Last December, several people who were involved with past events at the museum questioned the leadership team and asked for changes to be made at the top during the public comments portion of the Joliet City Council meeting after 13 staffers and volunteers were relieved of their duties over the course of several weeks. When that occurred, the city council voted 5-4 to delay the vote on whether to give the Joliet Area Historical Museum its annual grant of $250,000 until the February 6 meeting.

Mary Beth Gannon, who used to give lectures on local history for the museum, argues that council payment is not a grant. Instead, she said it is a “taxpayer bailout.”

Since then, the inspector general’s office has released a report that among other ideas suggest the council withhold funding to the museum until it can conduct its audit of the operation. The report, which is posted on the city’s Web site, recommends Joliet to hire an accountant to audit the museum’s finances as well as a human resources consultant to review management of the organization before any grant is distributed. 

The report was compiled by Sean Connolly, who was removed from his position as inspector general on Jan. 24.

Quillman said her dissenting vote was to determine “what happened” at the museum.

But Mayor Terry D’Arcy, who voted for the funding, said he is confident in his decision.

“They have been vetted by a human resources firm which said what they did was within the legal limits,” he said.

Gloria Dollinger, who serves on the museum board of directors, also addressed the council, insisting an audit is performed every year to make sure all the finances are in order at the Joliet Area Historical Museum.

“Our business has been transparent,” Dollinger insisted.

Councilwoman Suzanna Ibarra, who voted for the funding, also reassured the doubters that the city has control over making sure the money is spent wisely.