Miami Military Museum takeover awaiting orders

Miami-Dade County is soon to decide whether to buy the assets of the Miami Military Museum.

On July 26, three months after the county commission approved a transfer agreement, the county disbursed $800,000 allocated in the 2021-2022 budget for the museum’s operations. The commission is to receive a report with recommendations Oct. 6.

The Friends of the Military Museum of South Florida had operated the museum beside Zoo Miami on the former grounds of the World War II Naval Air Station Richmond at 12460 SW 152nd St. on county property. The organization provides the staff, training, construction, upgrade, repair, improvement, and code compliance of the museum building. The museum’s website lists 18 operating hours weekly, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

The organization’s license agreement with the county established that the museum operators could ask the county to assume ownership of the facility. A resolution approved in April officially made the request.

Under the existing license agreement, the county currently supports the museum with $750,000 yearly.

“I’m here to speak today in total support and in favor of the resolution for the Miami Military Museum,” Dr. Anthony D. Atwood, a resident military historian who was a founder of the museum and has been its champion since 2007, said at the April commission meeting.  “The vote you’re doing today has consequences far-reaching around this entire world. What matters is [that] we honor those who serve.”

The county’s Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department has already completed a report with the steps necessary to transfer ownership of the museum’s assets to the county, the costs of the transfer to the county, including those for future maintenance and operations, and a recommendation of whether ownership of the museum’s assets should be transferred to the county.

In recognition of the county’s financial support of the museum, the transition agreement provides for renaming of the museum building the “Miami-Dade County Military Museum.”

Although commissioners unanimously approved the resolution, some expressed concerns over the possibility of owning the museum and being fully financially responsible for it.

“If we get in the business of buying museums, we’re going to own a lot of museums,” said Vice Chairman Oliver Gilbert. He suggested that the report include a five-year strategic plan detailing how to fundraise for the organization and make it self-sufficient for the future.

Commissioner Raquel Regalado said that when the Bay of Pigs Museum reached out to the commission for funding, she suggested that operators needed to engage their second and third generation of leadership. They did, went back to the commission and brought a continuity plan.

“I understand the concern, but I feel like we’re stepping in to rescue and we don’t really have a clear plan as to what can be done or what has been attempted to ensure that the organization continues to do the good work that it’s doing,” she said.

Commission Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz, the sponsor of the resolution, requested the support of the commission. “All we’re doing is making sure that we’re good stewards,” he said. “They’re asking us [to] please help them. This is why I’m asking you for your support.”