Move strains senior center
Staff writer
Marion County expects to save about $6,660 a year by moving its Department on Aging to the Health Department, but Marion Senior Center will lose its only guaranteed income and inherit expenses the Aging Department now covers.
The county pays the center $400 a month, or $4,800 a year, for two offices. The center already spends about $6,500 a year on utilities and has gone without insurance for three years because it cannot afford it.
“The county has paid us $400 a month to rent the two offices,” senior center treasurer Norma Kline said. “That’s our only guaranteed income. If we had a fire or a bad windstorm, we would be sunk.”
Neither Kline nor the center’s board was consulted before commissioners approved the move, she said.
“We were blindsided,” she said.
Commissioners knew about the center’s concern before voting.
Commissioner Mike Beneke had heard concerns about the change and attended a meeting at which Department on Aging director Luretta Turk answered questions.
Commissioner Kent Becker acknowledged “some concern about the loss of revenue” before commissioners approved the move.
The transition is planned for late December, with Aging expected to operate from the Health Department by Jan. 1, county administrator Tina Spencer and Turk said.
In addition to rent, Aging also spends an average of $130 a month for telephone service and $81 a month on a copier, Spencer said. Moving to the Health Department’s phone system is expected to save $1,260 a year. Consolidating copier service is estimated to save at least $600, Spencer said.
“This isn’t a lot of money,” Spencer said.
Marion won’t automatically receive another county payment to replace the rent.
The county provides no routine monthly or annual direct financial support to senior centers in Marion, Hillsboro or Peabody, Spencer said. All three can ask for help with unusual expenses, such as a water heater, flooring, or emergency repairs, she said.
The county separately supports nutrition programs at all three centers through North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging. Otherwise, centers rely on donations, grants, and other revenue, with some receiving help from their cities, Spencer said.
Marion’s center has relied on Aging for computer and Internet service, copies and other help. Hillsboro and Peabody handle those needs themselves, Turk said.
Marion will need its own computer and Internet connection after Aging leaves. Turk said she would help the center obtain what it needs before the move.
An anonymous individual also is helping the center replace its revenue. Turk knows the person’s identity but could not disclose it because the assistance was anonymous. She would not specify the amount or how long the assistance would continue.
The county expects benefits beyond the $6,660 in estimated savings. Aging and health employees will be able to assist one another and collaborate on services, Spencer said.
A vacant part-time Aging position might remain unfilled or be restructured, possibly to add a part-time driver, Spencer said. No decision has been made.
The center received a $50,000 grant last year that paid for projects including new flooring. It has applied for about $23,000 this year for other projects, Kline said.
Putting on fundraisers has become harder because seniors active at the center have aged, Kline said.
A carport used by county-owned vehicles will remain at Marion Senior Center. A grant that paid for it was awarded to Marion County Senior Citizens Inc., not the county, Spencer said.
It potentially could be used an amended request to help the center recover costs or infrastructure lost with Aging’s departure, Spencer said.
Dickinson County took a different approach when its part-time Department on Aging director retired about a decade ago.
Rather than replace her, Dickinson eliminated its separate Aging department, Dickinson County administrator Janelle Dockendorf said.
Its Aging budget was $97,665 in 2016, including salary and benefits, meal support, office expenses, and mileage.
Eliminating the position cut just less than $60,000 in salary and benefit. Dickinson continued paying for meals and mileage and now spends about $39,000 annually supporting meal programs at four senior centers, Dockendorf said.
Some Aging responsibilities shifted to what was then Dickinson County’s K-State Research and Extension office.
Extension already provided some of those services, Chisholm Trail Extension District 4-H youth development agent Jill Martinson said.
Dickinson commissioners also increased funding by an unspecified amount for Extension to add another family and consumer sciences position as responsibilities shifted, she said.
The restructuring preceded formation of Chisholm Trail Extension District in 2020 and was not a condition of creating it, Dockendorf said.
When the district later was formed, its agreement required a family resource management agent to remain in Abilene because Dickinson wanted the service preserved, Martinson said.
Dickinson makes no separate payment to the Extension for former Aging work, Dockendorf said. Senior services were not lost in the restructuring, she said.
Marion is taking a different route.
Having Extension absorb Marion’s Aging department was not discussed with Turk before the Health Department move was proposed. Counties are not required to maintain a separate Department on Aging, she said, and Marion’s Aging Department and Extension already work together in some areas.
Transferring Aging responsibilities to Extension could be considered in the future, Spencer said. The current move is intended to consolidate operations, not reduce Aging services or transfer them to another agency, she said.
Combining Aging and Health could strengthen both as small communities face regionalization and reductions in services, Spencer said.