Families to launch landscaping venture

Two local families who launched new landscaping businesses this spring have announced plans to merge their operations into one venture, to be called Lincoln Creek Landscape & Designs.
Kyle and Carrie Peterson opened their new business in May, launching Lincoln Creek Family Ventures LLC as a garden and landscaping provider from their rural home northeast of Aurora on 14 Road. Meanwhile, Ian Mertlik, a native of Blair who moved to Aurora last year and is now married to local native Logan (Ohlson) Mertlik, launched INM Design this spring, utilizing his degree from UNL in landscape architecture after a two-year stint with Olsson & Associates. 
After working together this summer on a couple of different projects, the two families realized they would both benefit by working together in a way that simultaneously increased their resources, expertise and capacity for growth.
“Carrie is really good with the plants and the planting side of things and then I like more of the retaining walls, landscapes and that kind of work,” Ian explained. “So together it just kind of makes sense as a good pairing, combining all aspects of landscaping.”
“I’m really excited to work under someone who has a great skill-set,” Carrie said of Ian, their new business partner who will be the main contact for the new business. “He’s very talented. He knows what he’s doing and we already have such a great network of clients. I hope that I can help compliment him as well.”
Asked to describe the scope of services available from the new venture, Ian said the one term that lumps everything together is a full-service design/build landscaping company.
“So that means from the initial phone call, Carrie and I will go out on the site, walk around, take measurements or even get the blueprints from the contractor or whoever is building it, then come up with some concepts as to where we think patios go, plantings, trees and all that sort of thing,” he explained. “Then we talk through that with the client, make sure they like everything, show them different options and then move forward with installing that when the time comes.”
All of the new partners say they have been pleasantly surprised with the demand for landscaping services in the area since launching their two separate ventures last spring. Ian said his goal, initially, was to complete at least five projects in the first year, while the Petersons said they too were just taking one project at a time early on. The vision for combining resources started to come together when they worked together on a retaining wall at the Steve and Marilyn Vrana home this summer.
“We started off with some pretty small projects and then we ended up tackling a couple bigger projects and kind of realized that with more hands, more knowledge it was really proving our ability to get bigger projects and ultimately that it was financially beneficial to us to do some of the bigger projects,” Kyle said. “When we did the first project together we realized that Ian was a landscape guy who understood some of the engineering behind that. So we sold that (Vrana) job together and then at the same time we were working on a big job out at the Chad Ott house, where we kind of did his whole house. From an equipment standpoint, really everything, we were able to benefit by working together.
“I think we both came to the realization that you know if we can pool our resources, our assets, it was probably going to be a better business plan,” Kyle continued, reporting a combined total of approximately 30 projects thus far in 2022. “There is no reason for us to buy everything and then compete against each other for the same jobs, although there is probably plenty of work.”
Ian and Carrie will be the principal players in the business, since Kyle and Logan both have other full-time jobs. Kyle teaches and coaches at Aurora High School, while Logan began a new job as a physician’s assistant at Memorial Community Health just last month. She plans to help out in various ways in a “wife labor” capacity as well.
“I do think that each and every one of us is really important in making this really successful,” Carrie noted. “I mean, both Kyle and Logan have their connections in the community and can reach out farther than Ian and I, which is important.”

Labor factor
Finding available labor to help handle bigger jobs was another key factor, and on that note Kyle has connections with Aurora High School students, many of whom play on the Husky football team he coaches. Wade Ohlson, Logan’s younger brother, worked 30-40 hours a week for Ian last summer, while several other players helped out on projects as well, something Kyle hopes and expects to continue as the company heads into its busy season next summer.
“I had five high school kids hired to work on the Ott job and we’ve done that for other jobs too,” he said. “I think we probably anticipate having four to five seasonal laborers hired with a goal of having maybe two crews work next summer. That’s what I bring to this. I don’t do the design, but I’m pretty good labor and I have access to high school kids, so there will definitely be a connection there.”
Now heading into the fall season, with the legal formalities of forming a new business expected to finalize this month, Carrie said she is excited about the new and expanding opportunities.
“I know we did some retail this summer and we’re looking at expanding that,” she said, referring to a sales trailer she and Kyle set up near Jo Jo’s Gelato this summer. “We’re going to expand our current shop (at 1872 East 14 Road) and have more of a retail area and a greenhouse, so we will be able to have a constant supply of shrubs and offer things throughout the year as well. We definitely want to continue with pumpkins and Christmas trees so we’re more than just a summer venture. There are things that we want to continue to do all four seasons.”
Though Ian completed a couple of projects in Grand Island, the primary footprint for Lincoln Creek Landscape & Design will likely be Hamilton County.
“I think what we’re trying to do is fill a niche that no-one else in this community is serving,” Kyle concluded. “We have sprinkler people in this community, we have people that do the fertilizing in this area, the lawn care piece of things, but everybody seemed to be going to York, Grand Island or someplace else for the services that we’re offering. I think that’s kind of what we’re trying to fill.”