Local nonprofits ask board for continued or increased funding during April work session

Representatives of several outside agencies asked the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to continue or increase municipal support for programs serving children, seniors and public safety.

Teresa Wynet, representing the Community Development Center, described two children’s programs and asked for funds for supplies and outreach. “The child development center is an early intervention program,” Wynet said. She said the center provides in-home services for children with developmental delays from birth through kindergarten and that its children’s center for autism opened in January 2024. “We are in need for that program for some supplies…we also are asking for some money for the child development center to continue our child find activities, our public awareness as well,” Wynet said.

Grant Steele of Imagination Locker told the board his program provides a free book per month for children from birth to age 5 and asked the city to maintain prior support as postage and other costs have increased. “We have seen some significant cost increase over the last year…our postage is now approximately $1 per book,” Steele said.

Blake Koppel, board member for the Senior Center, introduced the center’s new director and reviewed activities and facility work funded by prior city support. Koppel told the board the center requests $10,000 — the same as prior years — for utilities, insurance, programming materials and maintenance. He said the center partners with South Central Human Resources for meal service and transportation and uses those partnerships to serve seniors.

Coby Templeton, on behalf of Crime Stoppers, asked for continued operating support for tips, rewards and a part-time employee who takes calls. “The requested funds will assist the general operation of the Crime Stoppers within the area,” Templeton said.

Other speakers included Crystal Guest of Junior Staff, which provides free therapy services for child-abuse victims, Paul Rawson of South Central Human Resource Agency, Dan Holt for the Lincoln County Airport Authority and Jeff Oliver for the Industrial Development Board; each provided brief updates and funding requests. Mayor and staff said the board will address funding requests in the formal budget sessions and that packet materials list 24 agencies that applied for funds.

Board members and staff did not vote on requests during the work session; instead, the mayor and city administrator directed aldermen to review agency packets and to take up the funding decisions during the scheduled budget hearings.