The Town of Yeoman has wanted a community center for more than two years and town leaders applied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to fund the project. An income survey of the towns' residents was done in order to qualify for funding.

They also recognized a need for the Carroll County Emergency Medical Services, which moved to the area at the end of 2004, to occupy a building more suited to their needs.

Town leaders added the EMS facility to their plans, which required an additional income survey with residents in Jefferson and Adams townships to involve more households in the service area.

However, according to project engineer Ken Smith from the Municipal Civil Corporation, when the EMS portion was added to the grant proposal, language was not added to "tie in the boundaries" of both entities. Yeoman town leaders reported at the Monday night town council meeting the project would not be considered for funding due to the confusion. The word came from a CDBG representative during a site visit almost two weeks ago.

Smith explained the town's options; it could proceed with the original proposal, the county could assume the lead and submit the application on behalf of Yeoman, or the town could change the wording of the proposal to more adequately describe the current situation.

Yeoman's town council chose to adopt a resolution to submit a re-worded proposal and application that would include both the town, Jefferson and Adams townships, plus the EMS facility as a separate entity.

"Let's get the thing submitted," Smith said.

He added that EMS would be expected to declare a service area for the application.

EMS Director Mike Durr pressed Smith for a time-line for project completion. He explained the current EMS building on US421 is for sale. "I'm in a building I shouldn't be in right now," Durr said.

Smith stated that it would be a minimum of 14 to 15 months before EMS could move into the community center site.

Council members directed Smith to assemble building plans and obtain necessary permits prior to application submission in an effort to enhance the chance of funding. This would be no additional cost to the county, Smith said.

The next Yeoman town council meeting will be April 10 in the telephone company's building at 7 p.m.