WINNEMUCCA - The Senior Citizens of Humboldt County, Inc., board which oversees the Pleasant Senior Center, is no slouch when it comes to moving ahead. Sometimes seniors can be seen as laying back and letting the world go on without them, but that is certainly not the case when it comes to the board that establishes policy for the non-profit corporation.
Board Chairman Jim Kinney said that they have some major moves planned for 2012. "We've grown quite a bit the last several years," he said.
Not all of the changes will be particularly visible to the public. Some, like the changes needed in the kitchen, will be more visible and most welcome to the staff that operates there.
"It (the kitchen) was designed really to produce about 60 meals a day and I think we're well up above 200 from time to time for what they cook in there," Kinney said.
They already have a grant to hire those involved in the design of an expanded facility.
"We've got bids out now to do that kind of thing," he said.
Working with the Nevada Rural Housing Authority, they will move ahead to also expand the dining area some 35-feet to the west. Doing that will reduce the size of the lot, but there will be additional parking to the north allowing for many more vehicles than the current lot has been able to accommodate in the past.
The present dirt road in the back of the center will be moved to the rear for safety purposes, allowing people to walk to the building without walking across a road. There could be as many as 120 parking spaces when all this is finished. This will allow more people to enjoy off-street parking rather than having to park on the streets around the center.
The old parking area to the west will have increased parking for those with limited ability to walk, but do not yet need a handicapped designation. However, there will still be the required handicapped parking areas.
There will be a breezeway from the kitchen area to the rear parking area, which will cover the new refrigerator to extend its life and help keep people out of the elements as they load the Meals on Wheels truck.
Building and grounds board member John Darre said that the breezeway will create a much safer environment for people walking between the building and Meals On Wheels van and save some effort for the refrigerator.
"It'll make the freezer work better," he said.
Eventually in all this construction there will be a pole barn erected to house the center's vehicles like the Meals On Wheels and transportation vans.
Lighting is a major consideration for looks and cost. LED lighting is being considered as well as solar at the center. Some of this can be covered by grants, and Kinney expects big savings over a short time.
Board Treasurer Wil Haley said there are a number of directions they are looking to go to finance all these projects, but they have some money in the bank and will be starting off on the right foot.
"We're solvent. We don't have any debt," he said.
Under discussion by the board is the possibility of having some forms of entertainment that currently use other local venues to utilize the center. Kinney thinks that with just a few changes it could work out.
"We'd like to kind of change the image from the senior center to being sort of an assisted living place for active older citizens, but are still pretty viable community members," he said.
The board is concerned that there may be a perception the center is only for old people, but many people over 65 are still very active and those folks need something to do.
"We want to make sure that we reach out to the whole population of elders," Kinney said.
The logistics of all this, let alone the financing, is still being discussed. For instance, how to continue to serve meals at the center while the construction continues is a major one. All these projects could amount to over $1 million, so they are looking for sources to help with the funding. Grants are one source and gifts are another.
"We're trying to get off the ground for some fundraising," Kinney said. "It's a bad environment for fundraising. (Director) Patricia's (Tindall's) looking for grants we can apply for."
In December of last year there was an election of board members and there are now four new ones, with two of those joining not yet 60 years old.
"I'm really looking forward to the first meeting of the board to get these things started again," Kinney said. That meeting took place on Jan. 17.
The Larios Arms Senior Residence apartments being built next door to the center are well on their way to completion, but Kinney said that he would like to see some changes in eligibility requirements. He thinks that because of mining in the area income averages are skewed, leaving some seniors out even though they have limited income.
"That really rules out a lot of people here who would probably benefit from moving in here," he said. "They would like to sell their homes and move in closer, but they can't."
According to a flyer from NRHA, the maximum household income to get an apartment there will be $28,600 for two people and $25,000 for one person.
"Our location and the economy kind of change the circumstances," Kinney said. "What we need is to find somebody who will kind of step up to the plate and carry that issue."
That would take someone with a research gene trying to find out what the regulations are, what entity was responsible for putting them on the books and what it takes to change them.
Kinney said that he would also like to see a small convenience store type of operation set up within the facility to serve those who come for lunch so they would not have to travel around town. He envisions a store that would just carry a few staples to tide a person over a day or two.
He said the board may be looking at some possibilities of utilizing computers to do something with telemedicine, interactive games and/or entertainment for social interaction. So they will be looking into expanding the bandwidth into the center along with education on how to work all those things.
"One of the first things we'll have to do this year is survey our membership," Kinney said.
The board will want to know what patrons have available to them now and what they would like to see in the future as they move forward.
Kinney said that they are fortunate to have a wonderful staff to keep everything together and take care of the seniors that come in.
"Most of the people who work here stay quite a while," he said.
The organization is a 501(c)3 non profit and not an agency of any government entity.
Kinney said he's glad that the Swinging Seniors group is doing so well and has become so popular in the area. He would also like to see other musical groups come together, such as a string group.
"If a brass band wanted to start up, that's OK with me too," he said.
They may also look into revamping the bylaws so that they match up with what is actually happening and make sure they are in compliance with all laws and regulations.
If you have any questions or ideas you would like the board to consider, the board members are Jim Kinney (chairman), Robert Osti (vice chairman), Wil Haley (treasurer), Anne Woodyard (secretary), John Darre Jr., Shirley Evans, Charlotte (Charlie) Beringer and Walt Vetter.
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