WYMORE - Facing opposition from the public and following recommendations from the city's planning and zoning committee, Wednesday night the Wymore city council voted against proposed ordinance changes that would have paved the way for a group home for young girls to begin operation in an abandoned building in town. 

A plan to convert a building that was once an assisted living center into a group home for at-risk girls was shut down this week when the Wymore City Council - in front of a crowd of about 150 invested onlookers - unanimously rejected the changes to the city codes that would have been required to make the proposed new home viable.

The proposed changes to Ordinance 688 would amend the definition of a group home in the zoning regulations, increasing the maximum number of residents in such a home from 16 to 50. The city codes would have also needed to be amended to accept group homes as permitted special uses in the R-2 residential district. 

"At the last public hearing, planning and zoning met before the city council meeting and planning and zoning voted no [on the proposed changes. And that just gets passed along as a recommendation to the city council," Wymore mayor Collin Meints said. "They're most of the reason why the council voted no against it, because of that broad area that would basically allow for a group home to basically be moved anywhere in our residential areas of the city."

Councilmember Neil Van Boening outlined the reasons for his opposition during the council meeting.

"First of all, based on the non-binding recommendation of the planing and zoning committee, and secondly, I'm opposed to it because when I look at the large amount of what is the affected R-2 area of the city - that's a large portion of the city, as I read the ordinance, that would be affected."

The council had previously considered creating a task force to help tackle this topic. That group would have consisted of representatives from the city, the school system, the leaders of the group home, local residents, and others - but Meints said there was an overall lack of interest, plus the added challenge of finding enough impartial potential candidates.

"I think this is part of the problem with trying to develop this task force is there's a lot of, how should I say this, emotions, about this particular topic. I honestly don't know that forming a task force will be effective," councilmember Max Allen said.

With the task force idea scrapped, all four members of the council agreed to follow the recommendation of planning and zoning and voted against the proposed changes to the ordinance.

The group heading the project request, New Hope Agency of Omaha, had initially hoped their proposed new facility would have already been home to patients and staff by now. But Meints says he and the council were never truly informed of the outside group's plans and desires.

"There was some miscommunication early on. The steps kind of were missed and I think there should have been more discussion before we jumped right into doing the ordinance," he said. "I don't think the people involved with New Hope Agency were quite familiar with our city ordinances and our planning and zoning, and I understand because they're not local. In the future, they can reapply for zoning changes, and it'll go through the same process again."

In a story that's largely about city codes, permits and buildings, there is an essential human element at play here in a topic that sparked passions from many people involved. The Wymore and Blue Springs community drew up a petition speaking out against these proposed changes, and organizers reported collecting 419 signatures. 

Previous city hearings about the subject generated strong reactions from all parties. This week's was much more subdued, though a tense atmosphere pervaded even through the final motion to adjourn. There was brief applause when it was first clear the motion had been rejected, and then a longer ovation once the meeting was disbanded, drawing the saga to a close - at least for now. 

Dr. Gertrude Makgabenyana, the New Hope Agency therapist that has been at the forefront of the group home proposal, said she was upset with how her agency and the girls they will in theory represent and support were received by the Wymore community.

"It's been sad because, to me, this is to help people. A lot of people, I think, in this area, really would say they're pro-life, right? And those kids that we fight so hard to be brought into this world, sometimes they come into unfortunate situations. And when they struggle when they're here, we think it's our responsibility to fight for them," she said. "I think that is sad to feel like these kids are condemned. These kids are not condemned. These are human beings that deserve a chance. And for me to see educational members, members of the Department of Education feeling like these kids are not good enough for them, that is embarrassing. It's a shame. It just shows how small this world has come to be."

A large group of locals spoke with NCN after Wednesday's meeting. Many were part of the group that organized the petition, and many have experience either with the school system or foster care - all described themselves as concerned citizens who stood staunchly opposed to the idea of adding in a group of at-risk girls to the Wymore and Southern Public Schools communities. Instead, their belief is that Wymore should spend its limited resources on the people who already live there.

"Many families have been part of this school since the beginning and are genuinely worries about the disruption this could cause," Southern teacher Jonna Arnold wrote in remarks she prepared to present to the group and shared with NCN afterwards. "Our school is the heart of our community. We all believe every child deserves compassion, support and a second chance. But that belief cannot come at the expense of the children we already serve. Our responsibility, first and foremost, is to protect and educate the students who depend on us today."

Makgabenyana said felt the ordinance rejection was both financially and racially motivated.

"These are kids, young people that are on probation and that are on probation for disease. They may be struggling with behaviors, they may be struggling because they've never had structure, and sometimes if home placement is not good for them, they go from place to place," Makgabenyana outlined. "But if you put them in a program that's going to provide structure, that's going to provide therapy for their trauma, you provide them with a safe place where they feel accepted. Sometimes you can save a few. You may not be able to get all of them, but the few that you get... make a difference."

But the many community members who spoke to NCN after the meeting, many quite passionately, staunchly rejected the racism accusations. Instead, they say they're opposed to the plan because Wymore doesn't have the resources - in the school, in law enforcement, and in the town itself - to support a project like this.

They don't want to see that building empty. I get that. But buildings shouldn't outweigh our community and children," said Pam Spier-Edmond, one of the organizers of the petition. "I have no problem with some of our community members standing up for what they believe in too. And in fact, I went over and I shook their hands. We're capable of having these discussions and these disagreements without having to go in and threaten people or call people names or say we're unchristian, say that we're running a KKK meeting. We're just parents."

The rejection of the ordinance means the former Hope building must remain vacant for now. It's an end to this chapter of this saga, but all parties believe the story is far from completed, and there could be future proposals, or even litigation, in the near future.

In a separate item, Wymore has been without a chief of police for months, and are considering ways to make the position more appealing. The police board pitched a hiring bonus of $15,000 added on to the job advertisement.

"We're hoping that a little extra payment would encourage more applicants, since we're getting hardly any...we're getting very few applicants at this point to fill that position," Van Boening said.

In fact, Meints reported they have had already any applicants for that position over the past few weeks.  The council suggested it would consider making that addition, but first requested a more solidified proposed pay schedule - would the extra money be treated as a lump sum signing bonus, or spread out across the length of the contract? -  from the police board before they would feel comfortable holding an official vote. This topic will be discussed again at a future council meeting.