After receiving no requested information and no one from Rosewood Services present to talk, the Barton County Commission once again tabled discussion on offering a letter of support to Rosewood to receive tax credits.
Rosewood asked for a letter of support from the County at the previous meeting on July 16 to receive tax credits from the Kansas Department of Commerce to help remodel the old E&E Glass building in Great Bend. The plans for the building include expanding a Rosewood training facility and creating office space upstairs.
Despite being on the agenda to provide additional details, Rosewood’s Director of Development Anna Hammond-Bodine was not in attendance. After contact with Rosewood later Monday, Eagle Radio was notified that Rosewood had informed the County last Thursday verbally and in writing that they would not be in attendance. The deadline for information to be turned into the consultant finalizing the tax credit application was July 19, and with the deadline already passing there was no point to be present.
Commissioner Alicia Straub stated at the July 16th meeting that she wanted to see the application and a budget on how the tax credits were going to be used. With nothing submitted to the County, Straub expressed her disappointment.
Alicia Straub Audio
Commissioners voted 5-0 to table the agenda item, but this time not setting a date for further discussion. Commissioner Homer Kruckenberg commended Straub for questioning the letter of support and Commission Chair Jennifer Schartz stated any time the Commission requests additional information it is for a valid reason.
“It is disappointing the County had such a difficult time understanding the value of this to our community,” said Tammy Hammond, Rosewood Services Executive Director. “Representatives from the Tax Credit Program indicated they had never encountered a city or a county not wishing for an award to their community…”
Straub questioned that the property owner of the building at 1117 Williams Street along with the nonprofit arm of Rosewood might stand to profit from the remodel. New Leaf LLC purchased the property in 2015 and the resident agent of New Leaf’s office is Anna Hammond.
Alicia Straub Audio
The Community Service Tax Credit Program has been awarded on a competitive basis across the state each year since 1994, with 13 recipients being awarded credits last year. Projects eligible for tax credit awards include community service, crime prevention, health care, youth apprenticeship and technical training.
Rosewood does not need the letter of support from the County to receive the tax credits, but it is helpful in the application process.
Hammond-Bodine noted last week that like many Rosewood operations, developmentally challenged workers at the training facility would have to master certain skills before getting paid.