LAKEPORT — Help is on the way for the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center after a unanimous vote Tuesday by the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
Approximately 60 seniors and community members applauded the board”s decision to begin finding contractors to make an estimated $452,000 of repairs to the approximately 70-year-old building.
An electrical system needing to be replaced was the top priority listed among 12 repairs needed. Another priority was replacing the exhaust hood over its stove. The current hood is out of compliance with fire safety regulations, according to a memo to the board from Lake County Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Director Kelly Cox. He estimated the cost would be $80,000 to replace the electrical system, and the hood replacement was lumped with another $80,000 of repairs needed to the building”s kitchen.
“This is literally an item that will determine whether or not this building stays open right now, given the state of its electrical system,” Dist. 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing said. The senior center is in her district, which includes the communities along the Northshore.
The electrical system was modified and expanded during the years, according to a memo from Cox. Rushing sent the senior center”s executive director, Lee Tyree, a letter dated Aug. 25 stating that the building might need to be red-tagged because of health and safety concerns if no action was taken to fix the electrical system. Cox said the Lake County RDA had money set aside to replace the electrical system, but could not legally justify funding the other repairs.
“If the county government wanted to do it as opposed to the redevelopment agency, you have that discretion. But I think we need grant funds and community support to do some of these other projects ? they”re going to be long-term projects,” Cox said.
Cox listed repairs that included installing new heating and cooling systems, stucco repair, gutter reconstruction, replacement of 190 windows, paint on the outside and inside of the building, plaster replacement needed because of roof leaks, hardwood floor repair and refinishing, plumbing work and kitchen remodeling.
Members of the senior center”s board of directors and community members spoke in support of the board”s decision. Gary Zimmer, a volunteer at the senior center, asked the board if the county would provide funding for a group of volunteers in the community to do the repairs.
“We have enough people in this group to tear that building down and rebuild it,” Zimmer said, motioning to the audience, which responded to his comment with applause.
The estimates Cox brought to the board for all of the needed repairs were based on an evaluation of the building done in July by Carter Construction in Upper Lake. Board members and community members expressed concern that some of the price estimates were too high. The board directed Cox to look for lower cost estimates for the repairs.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
