Carrying a tray of food, the volunteer pauses a moment to look at the sign.
‘It says ‘senior centep? … no, ‘se’or centep,?? he says, joking.
‘We need a new sign,? says Margaret Bartos, coordinator for the Independence Township Senior Center. The sign should say, ‘Senior Center,? but the letter ‘i? and part of the letter ‘r? have fallen off.
‘We need a new center,? she adds.
The center, in Clintonwood Park, is comprised of a 50-year-old, 4-bedroom farm house, and a building that used to hold things like cars and chickens. Services offered there include meals, health clinics, legal advice, games and recreational activities. Also, community groups, township Parks and Recreation activities, and programs such as Youth Assistance use the facility.
There’s not enough room to do that safely, Bartos said.
‘It’s really scary,? she said. ‘It’s great as a house, but not as a senior center.?
As a farm house, it was not built with handicap-accessibility in mind. As a senior center, the upstairs bedrooms are used as offices for Bartos, Parks and Recreations staff, and Youth Assistance. The basement is used for ceramics activities. Both floors are inaccessible to people who cannot climb stairs. The main floor has ramps for accessibility, and is used for group meals, kitchen, offices, recreation, and reading.
The senior center can be ‘cozy and cute,? but its condition has deteriorated to the point where people have avoided activities because of it, Bartos said.
The Citizens for Seniors Committee has been formed to campaign officially for the upcoming bond issue for a new senior center, and operating millage for senior programs and services.
A new senior center would be an an asset to the community, said committee member Lois Seddon.
‘A new center would provice a safe place for activities,? Seddon said. ‘It would be handicap-accessible, and would not have maintenance problems.?
Maintenance problems at the current building include sagging floors, leaky basement, and shaky electrical wiring, she said.
‘We have to turn lights off when we turn on the coffee maker or we blow a fuse,? Bartos said.
The goal of the center is to provide activities and services for three generations of older adults: 50 and older; 70 and older; and 90 and older, said Kelly Hyer, recreation supervisor with Independence Township Parks and Recreation.
For people around 50-60 years old, who often want to avoid the term ‘senior,? the center has exercise programs, sports trips, information for aging parents, volunteer opportunities, and flu shots. For those age 70-80, it also offers transportation, lunches, home-chore services, outreach referral and information, and parties. For those more than 90 years old, it offers opportunities for socialization and activities.
‘Clarkston Community Schools has about 8,000 students – there are about 8,000 people who are 50 and older,? Hyer said.
‘The schools are excellent – but on the other end of the spectrum, we’re not taking care of the seniors.?
A proposal in 2002, which was defeated, included a community center and township offices in addition to the senior center. The current proposal includes just the senior center, although it has been and will continue to serve some community-center functions.
According to Parks and Recreation, the bond proposed for the new building will be up to $3.1 million. The operating millage will be set at 0.4 mills, generating $650,000 each year for four years. Cost to the average township tax payer is estimated at $80.44 per year for the bond and millage.
The new center would no longer be funded through the Parks and Recreation Department, freeing up 20 percent of its budget.