The program, which serves about 30 students, has been housed in the center for more than two years.
But the Planada Community Development Corp., which operates the program there, has been asked to vacate. And, administrators say, if they have to leave, they have no place to go.
The Merced County Community Action Agency -- which has been facing financial troubles since finding a more than $327,000 shortfall in its budget earlier this year -- manages the county-owned community center.
Through a prior agreement with Merced County, CAA pays for general maintenance and utilities, said Hank Strength, a member of the Community Action Board and acting director of the agency.
He said the agency wants to move some of its own programs, which are housed in the former Planada library, into the center.
Strength said his agency's programs need to move, in part, because Merced County Supervisor Gloria Cortez Keene, whose district includes Planada, has indicated she wants to restore the library.
Also, CAA plans to rent the community center out for local events.
To do those things, the Planada Community Development Corp. likely will have to move out.
Along with the after-school program, the Planada CDC keeps two offices in the building, and offers services including suicide prevention, Healthy Families and medical program assistance and evening computer classes for adults. The organization has been based out of the center for about eight years, its board members said.
The CDC has also put about $50,000 in upgrades into the building, with the help of a grant that created a computer lab used to train both children and adults. A $20,000 facilities grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture also provided the corporation with furniture, CDC Programs Director David Corser said.
If the CDC has to move out, Corser said, he doesn't know how or where to relocate all the equipment.
If the CDC is evicted, the CAA would save about $4,200 annually -- the rent paid on its space in the former county library -- said Strength.
Also, the money earned from renting the space out for community events could be applied to utility bills, he added.
No date has been given for the CDC to leave, Strength said.
He said his agency is trying to work the situation out, but at this time, has no plans to kick out the after-school program until it has somewhere else to go.
That will come as good news for 12-year-old Chris Bustamante, a Planada Elementary School student who participates in the program.
It's a good place to go, he said, and "it keeps kids out of trouble."
Back rent
Supervisor Keene said the proposed library restoration project and the projected eviction of the CDC from the community center have nothing to do with each other.
"They need to pay their rent," she said. "That's how people get evicted."
The Planada CDC owes about $8,000 in back rent and utilities, Strength said.
But Corser said that's not true.
Corser and Strength agreed that years ago -- exactly when is unknown -- the Planada CDC paid $100 monthly to CAA, plus a third of the utility bills, which totaled about $30.
Then, at some point, the Planada CDC contracted with the Community Action Agency to handle its finances, including paying its bills, and about 7 percent of its grant funding was given to the agency as part of the deal.
Corser said it was his understanding that the money included enough to cover rent and utilities. But, he continued, he doesn't know a lot of the specifics because his organization's board treasurer handled the finances.
The treasurer -- Harry Dull -- was also the former executive director of the Community Action Agency.
Dull resigned shortly after being placed on administrative leave when the agency's $327,000 shortfall came to light. The shortfall is said to have been an overexpenditure caused by inadequate accounting systems. Dull has also vacated his position as treasurer of the CDC.
The Planada CDC terminated its contract with the Community Action Agency -- about the same time the agency began dealing with the shortfall -- and began paying the $100 monthly rent again.
Strength, who took over as CAA acting director last month, said he hasn't seen any records that detail the arrangement. He did say that the Planada CDC has recently starting paying the monthly rent again, though.
Appealing to the county
The Planada CDC has appealed to the county's Board of Supervisors.
But Supervisor Keene said she thinks the issue is between the CAA and the CDC because the Community Action Agency leases the building from the county, but subleases to the CDC.
Members of the Planada CDC disagree.
They said the CAA's agreement to lease the building from the county expired in 1999, so the CAA does not have the ability to evict the CDC.
They say they want to deal directly with the county and its Board of Supervisors.
On Tuesday, Planada CDC members, armed with a petition signed by more than 300 Planada community members, asked the county board to turn over the building's management to them. That would allow them and their after-school program to stay.
The supervisors agreed to send the issue to county staff members to study, and there's no deadline for decisions.
Strength said CAA is also in the process of renewing its contract with the county to manage the building.
Supervisor Keene said she doesn't want the after-school program to go away, and is trying to see if the schools in Planada might be able to take it over.
However, Alicia Rodriguez, a volunteer with the after-school program, said she doesn't think school is the best place for the CDC program.
Students might not want to stay in school after being there all day, she said.
The community center offers a positive and safe environment where kids can go to learn, without having to be kept after school, Rodriguez said. Reporter Cheri Carlson can be reached at 385-2477 or ccarlson@mercedsun-star.com.
