News : Supervisors approve loan for Nature Center; deal to close later this month

The Conservation Board will buy this house this month and soon transform it into a Nature Center.

This architect's drawing shows how the Hesson home will become a Nature Center.

After a brief hearing and an unanimous vote this morning, the Benton County Nature Center will soon become reality.

The Board of Supervisors approved a $330,000 loan from the Donovan Trust for the purchase of the Kevin and Deb Hesson property adjacent to Rodgers Park. The house will be remodeled into a nature center.

While the loan agreement is for $330,000, the supervisors approved a $400,000 loan in the budget amendment they approved Tuesday morning, in case additional funds should be needed.

Closing on the deal will take place later this month. The supervisors approval and the hearing were the final two steps needed.

Funding also came from the Kerkland Trust.

This proposal differs significantly from the previous plan.

The Conservation Department will purchase the house and lot at the corner of 58th Streetand 20th AvenueDrive, which is adjacent to RodgersPark. The house will then be remodeled into a NatureCenter.

The total cost of the project is estimated at around $500,000.

The first $100,000 of that money will come from the Laverne Kerkman estate.

Kerkman left the Conservation Department approximately $200,000 from the sale of his estate. Half of that money was to go toward a NatureCenterat either HannenLakeor RodgersPark. The other half was divided into two equal parts to fund improvements at those two parks, and to go toward educational projects for the Benton County Naturalist education programs.

“Laverne Kerkman loved camping at HannenLakeand RodgersPark,” said Dave Henkel, a former Conservation Board member.

Fund-raising to retire the debt to the Donovan Trust will begin soon. Conservation Board and Foundation members will be asking for donations from local individuals and businesses.

The board had initially planned to build a new NatureCenteron property currently under the control of the Conservation Department. But this new option will cost less than half of the $1.2 million estimated for the new center. It also increases the size of RodgersPark.

The land purchase would include some wetlands that can be managed to help reduce flooding of the creek that winds through RodgersPark. High waters have caused some damage to a bridge there in recent years.

The Donovan Trust of more than $800,000 was donated to the Conservation Board last year; its trustees agreed to the loan at an interest rate of 2.5 percent.

The Benton County Conservation Foundation recently received its non-profit 501 (c)3 status, which will help with fund-raising efforts for the Nature Center.