Jeremy Walsh
Staff reporter
LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved contracts between the county and eight senior services organizations, allowing $84,546 to be dispersed.
“Times are very, very difficult for all these centers,” District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing said before the BOS voted unanimously to approve the funding. “This is important at this point and time.”
District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith said he wanted staff to explore whether the county could afford to provide more funding. “There are so many seniors dependent on these services,” Smith said. “We ought to look at it a little bit harder.”
County administrator Kelly Cox told the BOS that the funding stipulated in the eight contracts was not the only support the county offers the senior centers. The county also provides funding for specific programs and will help fund future construction projects at centers in Clearlake Oaks and Middletown, Cox said.
Cox said he was unsure how the county could increase its funding next fiscal year. “We did quite well to maintain the funding (this year),” he said.
Jacque Spiker, executive director of the Middletown Senior Center, said the county”s funding is an important contribution. “In the world of private, non-profit organizations, where funding is always a top priority, all donations are gratefully accepted,” she said.
Spiker said the $4,400 the BOS approved Tuesday would be used exclusively for the purchase of food products and food delivery services.
Lee Tyree, executive director of the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, said that the center”s Meals-On-Wheels program would not exist without the county”s $4,400 funding.
“It”s so important. We operate on a shoestring,” Tyree said of the county funding. “It helps us feed our homebound seniors.”
In total, the BOS approved seven contracts with area senior centers, each of which stipulated that the organization must keep explicit fiscal records and adhere to other terms of the contracts.
The seven funding recipients were: Lucerne Alpine Seniors, Inc., Middletown Senior Citizens, Inc., Highlands Senior Service Center, Inc., Live Oak Senior Center, Lakeport Senior Center, Inc., Kelseyville Seniors, Inc. and Senior Support Services, Inc.
The eighth contract provides $48,360 in matching funds to the local Area Agency of Aging, allowing the agency to continue receiving state and federal grant monies.
“The county is demonstrating its commitment to the senior population in Lake County,” Spiker said.
All contracts stipulate that the funds will be dispersed within 30 days of the signing date.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
