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State, county want answers on 'eco retreat'
CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- A Cambridge woman who has been developing an "eco retreat" on her Cambridge-area farm for five years has 30 days to respond to concerns from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development about progress on "EarthBlooms Inc."
Andela Taylor of rural Cambridge has until Sept. 16 to answer questions from Steve Charleston, Community Development Block Grant Program Manager for the DED, and even more imminent deadlines -- Aug. 30 and Sept. 13 -- to let Red Willow County commissioners know when she plans fall 2010 "events" at EarthBlooms.
Noncompliance with requirements of the $131,000 DED Tourism Development Initiative CDBG grant would mean that Taylor and her husband, David -- or the county -- will have to repay the grant funds in full.
Andela Taylor accepted the grant in August 2005 and hoped to have the agricultural and environmental retreat in operation in two years. The retreat is to provide hands-on experiences focusing on nature, wellness, culinary arts, arts and crafts, horticulture and agriculture.
The Taylors are required to invest a matching $123,000 in financial and in-kind support. The project is required to create 3.5 full-time jobs -- of which two must benefit low- to moderate-income persons -- to meet CDBG national employment objectives.
Miller and Associates of Kearney is administrator of the grant and is paid $6,700 from the grant. Jacque Haupt, of Miller and Associates, accompanied Charleston on an on-site inspection of EarthBlooms on May 11.
In a letter dated Aug. 16, Charleston wrote to commissioners that it appears construction of the events center "is at a standstill. Therefore, it also appears operations and events will not take place in 2010." In a July 12 e-mail to Charleston, Andela Taylor wrote that she plans to host "several preview packages and events." By the DED Sept. 16 deadline, Taylor must provide brochures, announcements and results from those events. Charleston writes to commissioners, "These events are critical for the department's continuation with the project."
Charleston indicates to commissioners that although EarthBlooms has created 21⁄2 full-time positions, only one meets the low-moderate income test. Charleston writes, "The project at this point falls short of the national objective" of CDBG job creation requirements.
Charleston wrote that in order to meet the national jobs objective, the project must support 3.5 FTE positions concurrently; seasonal employment is allowable as long as those persons hired consider the position their principal employment.
Charleston is disallowing $12,105.46 in purchased equipment and materials for grant reimbursement and for charging as match. These disallowed expenses "are based on non-substantiated use for the events project and the limited or non-project usage since purchase, and include:
Sears grill and lawn tractor, $2,502.73
Plow and Earth lights for building, $70.79
Plow and Earth baskets, $44.97
Elliptical treadmill and elliptical trainer, purchased on e-bay, $1,000 each
Digicorp Pentax K10D camera, $1,295.99
City of Cambridge fire truck $2,565
JP Repair batteries for truck $144.84
Arctic Cat all-terrain vehicle, with sprayer, $3,481.50
The Taylors originally planned to renovate an existing detached building into an events center and purchased post-and-beam construction materials for a 22x40-foot multi-use structure for $17,481 from Sand Creek Post & Beam. The Taylors instead, after the award of the grant, added onto their home, incorporating the post-and-beam materials into the new addition that includes a walk-out basement and a ground floor.
Charleston noted during the on-site inspection that "the events facility (was) not ready for use and need(s) significant interior, exterior and site finishing."
Charleston also noted that the facility is not handicapped accessible. He is requiring that Andela Taylor provide illustrations and digital photos showing how the events center will manage persons with disabilities using wheelchairs, walkers or other assistance devices.
Charleston writes, "The facility must meet the Americans with Disabilities standards."
Charleston also questioned and disallowed the following construction items for the events center:
* Shingles for the owners' house. "Improvement to private property is not a part of the funded project," Charleston writes.
* Bathtub for the events center.
* Materials not used from Sand Creek Post & Beam that are stored in the detached building, which were not used in the events center.
* Concrete patio and overhang on the owners' residence.
Charleston is asking Taylor to provide costs for these expenses, and for documentation for and explanation of a $4,100 balance due to Menard's for construction materials for the events facility.
By the Sept. 16 deadline, Taylor must provide this information to Charleston:
* Progress reports on construction.
* Digital photos of grounds, and interior and exterior of the events facility.
* Accommodations to meet ADA standards.
* Cost analysis for listed construction and material items not allowable.
* Event brochures and announcements for 2010 fall events, along with digital photo documentation. Charleston writes, "These event happenings are a key to the continuation of the project."
Charleston wrote in his Aug. 16 letter to commissioners that Taylor needs "to demonstrate that it (the events center) is a workable operation while moving into the next year."
Haupt told commissioners that she is very concerned with the lack of handicap accessibility, with the amount of work that remains to be done inside and outside and with the absence of marketing and promotion. Commissioner Leigh Hoyt said, "She has a long way to go if the money has all been spent."
Haupt said that the condition of the driveway into the Taylor farm from the county road is the Taylors' responsibility. Charleston's on-site inspection was in May, during a rainy spell, and in his letter to commissioners, he noted that the road was muddy. He also noted that "the roads need significant improvements to make for passable two-lane widths for traffic." He suggested that the Taylors provide travel coordination from Cambridge for their guests. He also noted the lack of signs and directions to the site.
During a conference call Monday with commissioners during their weekly meeting, Andela Taylor said she and neighbors are concerned that the county road is too narrow, especially at the top of the hill north of the turnoff onto Taylors' drive. Commissioner Steve Downer said he would check out the width of the road yet Monday.
Haupt said that as grant administrator she handled requests from Andela Taylor for funds from the grant, sent receipts to the state, and served as a representative of the county, specifically at the inspection with Charleston. She has kept the county advised of expenditures as well.
Haupt said that she has very often stressed to Taylor that she needs to finish the project, host an open house, invite the public and do newspaper stories and advertising for marketing and promotion of the events facility. "We need to help her, support her to fulfill her obligations," Haupt said.
Commissioner Leigh Hoyt disagreed with Taylor's contention that she has not received support from the commissioners for her project. Commissioners agreed in the beginning that the county could be the governmental agency through which the grant funds could be funneled, have agreed to several extensions that Taylor has requested and haven't pressured her to complete the project. "We've supported her," Hoyt said. "She's had deadlines to meet, and she hasn't met them."
"She needs to get this open and have some events," Haupt said. Downer said he thinks the state may be forgiving if Taylor actually hosts some events.
During the phone call with Taylor, Commission Chairman Earl McNutt told Taylor that commissioners "definitely want you to respond to Steve Charleston, and keep this project moving forward." Commissioners asked that Taylor show them the documentation she plans to send to the state on or before the commissioners' Aug. 30 meeting, and let them know the dates for events by their Sept. 13 meeting.
Taylor told commissioners that she was planning an event "as we got closer to completion," and will send updated photographs to Charleston and the commissioners. "It's all good to go, finally," Taylor said.