The Nile Valley Aquaponics project is back on track.
Last month the aquaponics food system was on hold during a land dispute. But both parties agreed it could continue if the Males to Men nonprofit completely oversees it.
Harrel Johnson Sr., founder of Kansas City Keys, wanted his land to go to the founder of Males to Men Aquaponics, Dre Taylor.
Johnson Sr. is no longer talking to his son and current president of Kansas City Keys, Harrel Johnson Jr., after Johnson Jr. locked up the property at 29th and Wabash.
The tilapia and plant self-sustaining food operation was at a standstill.
“This man comes in and builds beautiful things to help the community, the people. And my son comes and wants to take it over? That's not right,” said Johnson Sr.
Taylor agreed.
“Before, the partnership was I was supposed to implement the work and do the job, and Males to Men [was] supposed to take care and manage the property, and we were going to work up a percentage. They were going to get 15 percent of whatever I was able to produce here at the property so it wasn't $350,000, that's for sure,” Taylor said.
The problem is Taylor's program, Males to Men, does not have a 501-C3 distinction, so he partnered with Johnson Jr.'s non-profit group Kansas City Keys so he could apply for grants.
It’s when the project started to get attention that things soured.
Johnson Sr. said, “Sunday, he didn't see his name in the paper or anything about the Kansas City Keys and he came over and shut the place down."
Johnson Jr. then demanded Taylor to pay him $350,000 for the property or lease at $5,000 a month.
We reached out to Johnson Jr. several times. He did not respond.
For Johnson Sr. and Taylor, the ordeal is frustrating.
“Is this tearing up the family? Yes, it is,” Johnson Sr. said. “It's hurting the family because he's spreading bad news and I have to defend myself, and he's going through the family and he's making it ugly."
"It's sad to see Johnson Jr. allowed this project to divide the family,” Taylor said. “It's not that serious for something you didn't really do."
Taylor filed a lawsuit and is in the process of getting his own 501-C3. He is also working on other projects for his mentoring program.
------
Jane Monreal can be reached at JANE.MONREAL@KSHB.com.
