The Riverview Community Center, located at 606 E Madison Street, is the current location of the senior meal site. Due to changes in State funding, Pepin County Human Services may have to seek a new location for its five-times-per-week meal offerings to seniors in the community.

Pepin County exploring options for senior meal site location

Our goal is to work as partners and find a solution...

For many years, Pepin County Human Services has been utilizing the Riverview Community Center as its meal site location for seniors.
"The County currently rents the Riverview Community Center for our Durand meal site," said Aging and Transportation Manager Cammi Catt-DeWyre. "We're currently a tenant of the Pepin County Council of Senior Citizens."
The Pepin County Council of Senior Citizens, Inc., is a 501c3 organization that owns the center.
"At one time, some mortgage money was owed to the County and the City of Durand, but it has been paid off," said Board Member Kathy Swanson. "At the present time, the County rents the center five days a week for the meal site for seniors."
The building, which was built in 1977-78, is tucked behind Econo Foods on East Madison Street. The Council, not the County, owns, operates, and maintains the building.
Now, Pepin County Human Services may have to find a new location for the meal site in Durand, as money from the State to pay rent has decreased.
Catt-DeWyre and Director of Human Services Paula Ashbeck were notified by the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWaar) in November that the rent the County is paying is significantly higher than what other nutrition programs are paying.
According to 2013 data, the average meal site rent is $134 per month. Pepin County is paying $875.
"We're obligated to look at where our money is going with the best interest of the taxpayers in mind," Ashbeck said. "We need to look at options to sustain a good program that is more cost-effective, which allows us to free up money for other services."
Ashbeck said the tax levy cannot be increased, and because of the increase in everyday expenses, the economy has caused donations to lessen.
"We're seeing lots of increased costs, but less money from the State," she said.
The nutrition program is mandated by the State of Wisconsin, but Catt-DeWyre said the State does not support the fact that Pepin County pays so much for rent.
"They feel the money could be put back into the program for other things," she said.
Ashbeck said when meal site staff hours are cut, they're unable to provide the social aspects or outreach to the seniors.
"It's important that we can get a more cost-effective rate to bring back those aspects of the meal site," she said. "This is something that happens across the board with all departments."
Ashbeck said the Pepin meal site has been cut recently from five days a week to two.
"Home delivery is still available," Ashbeck said. "The State requires one site be open five days per week."
Catt-DeWyre noted there are a lot of cuts in the department that citizens might not be aware of, but the meal site issue is more noticeable than the others.
The cost of meal site rent is covered one-third by the State, one-third from tax levy dollars, and one-third from donations.
"Very few other centers are owned by a Council," Ashbeck said. "Some are donated, others are city-owned."
Catt-DeWyre said the State offered support for the Council to connect with other senior centers in the State to explore sustainable options.
Catt-DeWyre and Ashbeck met with Senior Council President Galen Radle and discussed the situation, and offered to come to the next board meeting to talk about options.
"The Board met, and our rent was deemed non-negotiable," Ashbeck said. "The Human Services Board gave us direction to continue outreach with other possible locations, and that's where we're at."
Ashbeck said she thinks the community is unaware of where the separation between the Aging Department and Senior Council lies.
The Pepin County aging and transportation manager reports to the Department of Human Services (DHS) director, works with the aging and nutrition committees, who make recommendations to the DHS board, who then reports to County Board with final authority. DHS owns equipment at the meal sites, and distributes the Golden Age Newsletter.
The Pepin County Website has a section for aging programs and services, including meal site locations and information. The DHS has its own phone line and garbage service, and has staff incluing an aging and transportation manager, program assistant, meal site managers, nutrition drivers, and volunteers. Any senior or other eligible individual is able to participate in the congregate meals.
The Senior Council reports to the Senior Council Board, and owns and maintains the Riverview Community Center. The Council submits articles for publication in the newsletter, and some volunteers fold and distribute the newsletter. The Council relies on rent, fundraisers, and donations for funding.
The Senior Council has its own phone line and garbage service, and staff includes Crystal Dow, as well as other volunteers and members.
DHS and the Senior Council have split the cost of a volunteer banquet each year.
"Our goal is to work as partners and find a solution," Ashbeck said. "We're not able to continue renting the site at the current rate, but we know expenses exist. We hope to be able to help the Council come up with other ways to support their building."
Ashbeck said the DHS and Senior Council both have a vision to serve the seniors in the community.
"We want to work together to do that," she said. "We have separate roles, funding, and duties, but it's all there to support the seniors. We should be working together, and that's what we desire."
Ashbeck said closed session in a December 29 human services meeting would discuss the finances of the meal site.
The DHS uses about four hours of its allowed six per day of the hall rental.
"A recommendation was made to have the Senior Council create a steering committee to explore funding options for the building and to find support," Ashbeck said. "We're certainly willing to be a partner, but it's not possible for us to continue funding at this rate. There needs to be conversations about collaboration and sustainability options."
The Senior Council currently has nine board members, and 85 members. Membership dues are set low, at $3.
"At times we've had many more members, but deaths, moving to nursing homes, or moving away have decreased our numbers," Swanson said. "We're always open to new members."
Swanson said she believes the Riverview Community Center is one of two senior centers in Wisconsin that is not in a government-owned building.
"That's where the problem comes in," she said.
Swanson said she does not believe the data comparison done by the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources was fair, and called it a "grapefruit to apples" comparision.
"The other buildings are owned by the State or County, so our rent is higher," she said. "That's not a fair assessment."
Swanson said the Council relies on donations and other outside rentals for funding.
"We've done many, many fundraisers to help maintain and update the building," she said. "We had two estates give us funds to install automatic door openers. We've done everything we can to save money and make the building as efficient as possible."
Swanson said she realizes there are cutbacks, and stated there had been no negotiation at this point.
"I feel the comparison by GWaar was very unfair because we're a private organization and we pay our own bills," she said. "The government doesn't pay our utilities."
Swanson said the operating cost of the center is approximately $1,000 to $1,200 a month, the majority of which is utilities. Liability and fire insurance are also big expenses, and plowing can average out to $100 per month over the year.
"The County's contract gives them use of the center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and they don't utilize all their hours," she said.
Swanson also said everyone on the Senior Council Board of Directors donates their time.
"We don't ask for mileage or any compensation," she said. "We have one person in the office on the Experience Works Program, which is federally funded. The other people in the office are volunteers."
When she was first on the Board, Swanson said the County had offices in the building. They also rent the building out back, and storage inside.
"We're just waiting to find out what the County wants to do," Swanson said. "If they want to talk, we're open to talk. Our president, Galen Radle, was invited to a private meeting, but he was unable to make a decision without the full Board."
Swanson said the Council will keep the doors of the center open as long as they can, regardless of the outcome of negotiations.
Aside from the County, the center is also occasionally rented by Girl Scouts, a quilting group, and the Operation Shoebox group. The VFW and Baptist Church also utilize the space, as well as other individual groups.
"Donations and outside rentals are down," Swanson said. "It's a sign of the times. People are having their graduation parties at home instead of renting space."
Swanson said the center is in the perfect location, though it is hidden.
"We have a gorgeous river view, and people really enjoy watching the birds," she said.
Swanson said she believes the center is needed.
"We would love to have the meal site here, but we can't take a 50 percent rent cut," she said. "A minimal cut would be more acceptable than a major cut or scrapping of the program. I don't think the politicians in Madison understand that."
Swanson said if the meal site remains at the center, it will be wonderful.
"If they choose to go somewhere else, we'll work harder to keep the doors open as long as possible," she said. "I think this is an asset to the community, and the doors should stay open."
Swanson also said just because things are in jeopardy right now, doesn't mean the doors are closing anytime soon.
"We have great supporters in the community, both businesses and individuals," she said. "This is a good community, and the center is a good asset."

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