Seniors approve expenses
Senior Citizens of Marion County, Inc. approved a mill levy request of $240 for a vacuum sweeper at Peabody Senior Center and reviewed the 2007 budget for Marion County Department for Elderly.
The commercial vacuum sweeper will be purchased at Newton Vacuum Center. The total cost of the sweeper is $479.
Proposed expenses in 2007 are $81,660 — $47,660 for personal services, $22,222 for contractual services, $2,278 for commodities, and $9,500 for capital outlay.
In other business:
- Elderly department director Noreen Weems announced she will retire in 2007 after serving the county for 26 years.
- The annual meeting will be Oct. 12. Goessel declined their turn to host the meeting so it will be held in either Marion or Hillsboro.
- Arlene Unruh, ONE committee chairman reported the committee met July 11 at Peabody Senior Center. Senior center managers reported daily meal averages and special programs that were presented at their centers.
- Gary Gooszen, representative of North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging, presented a plaque to Elaine Martel, retired Peabody Senior Center manager. Gooszen reported centerpieces are needed for the senior fair on Sept. 19 at Salina. Silent auction items are needed for the fair and should be written on the sign-up sheet and brought to the August county board meeting. Also needed is an old-style pedal toy tractor.
- Other information distributed were handouts on healthy eating and K-Mart's prescription drug program.
- Irvin Goertzen, transportation committee chairman, reported the elderly department had been approved for the KDOT Section 5310 program to serve only elderly clients. Lettering on the vans have been changed to Marion Co. Dept. for Elderly.
- NC-FH AAA board member Don Fruechting provided statistics on congregate and home-delivered meals.
- Senior centers made the following report: Burns women have finished a quilt; there was a good attendance at Marion and Florence centers to hear Janet Herzet and Judy Burkett present programs on stroke; Durham played bingo at the last potluck; and Vicki Nickels, new administrator at Legacy Park and the new Main Street Director presented programs at Peabody.
The Marion center reported numerous programs that included a skit with an all-male cast, Leonard Klassen presented a program about his trip to Alaska, and a Hawaiian luau was planned.
Tampa met in July and at a local restaurant, and returned to the community building and played card bingo. Ramona's attendance at a July potluck was lower than usual but there was a better attendance at game night.
- Applications are being accepted for those wanting to work 20 hours per week for minimum wage.
- Marion County Clerk Carol Maggard brought and demonstrated a new election machine.
The next board meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday at city hall, Lehigh. Coffee and rolls will be served in the morning but no lunch will be provided.
