The Yucca Valley Town Council reduced the open hours of the Hi-Desert Nature Museum in a special meeting last night. Managing Editor Tami Roleff said a budget excess will go towards capital projects…
Due to early retirement and staff lay-offs, the number of employees at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum has been reduced from 3¼ to 1½ , which is not enough to keep the museum open five days a week. At last night’s meeting of the Yucca Valley Town Council, the council voted 4 to 1, with Bob Leone against, to reduce the museum’s hours of operation. As of Saturday, June 1, the museum will be open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only, from 10 to 5. The museum will only be open for Wednesday events, such as the Art and Culture lectures, that are listed in the summer schedule. The museum will also open Tuesdays and Wednesdays—by appointment only—for special groups and tours. Council members urged Town staff to find ways to restore the museum’s hours to five days a week. In other business, the council was given another update on the proposed budget. Council members directed staff to allocate revenues that are in excess of expenditures—right now estimated to be about $181,000—to capital project funds for infrastructure maintenance.
