Holmes County senior center weighs becoming county-run after levy failure

With the failure of the recent levy in the November election, the Darb Snyder Holmes County Senior Center is exploring options on which road it will now travel to do whatever is best for the seniors of Holmes County.

One option came into view Monday, Nov. 17 when Tabitha Strouse, senior center chairperson of the board, and board member Wesley Ervin met with the Holmes County Commissioners to explore the option of bringing the senior center under the umbrella of the Holmes County Commissioners.

While many people already believe the center is under the county’s control, it currently operates as its own entity.

According to Strouse, the financial struggle of the senior center is not something that is new. She said these struggles have been going on for years.

The discussion centered around recreating the senior center under the county’s leadership, which would mean several key changes.

Strouse brought several points of importance the senior center board felt would be necessary to continue operations as is, including financial support needs.

“We don’t want our seniors to suffer,” Strouse said. “What we are trying to do is not make the seniors suffer. We believe that for this to continue to go, it needs to go under the county umbrella.”

The commissioners first and foremost expressed their gratitude to all involved with the senior center, stating they know how much work goes into meeting the needs of seniors throughout Holmes County.

Joe Miller, commissioner chairman, said the commissioners would have zero interest in financially supporting the senior center as it is currently operating.

“If we put tax dollars in, we are obligated to be part of it,” Miller said. “We would want to start all over with a brand-new board. The manager would come see the county board of commissioners and report to us every week. We need to be in control of it if we are going to subsidize it.”

Miller said the county is responsible for operating Job & Family Services, the County Home, the sheriff’s office and other entities that fall under the county umbrella, and appointing a new board is part of the process, although the current board could serve as an advisory board to inform the county of the senior center’s needs, and some of them could be appointed to the new board to maintain continuity.

“We’ve got to go through the proper channels,” Miller said, saying a new county-appointed board is part of that process.

Commissioner Dave Hall said during any audit process, should the county agree to get involved, the commissioners would have to have control over what money is spent.

“We took an oath of office to be good stewards of the county’s money, and our taxpayers are going to expect that from us,” Hall said. “We know you all want to do everything you can for our seniors, and you have been. It’s just a struggle right now of everyday operations and keeping the doors open. That’s got to be hard.”

Strouse said the one big ask they have if they do come under the county’s umbrella is that the senior center must remain a senior center.

“That is a major concern for our board and our seniors,” Strouse said.

Hall said when the senior center received a major donation from the estate of Darb Snyder years ago, one stipulation is the building it currently resides in would always be committed to being a center designated for senior citizens.

He said in 2006 when the agreement was signed, a lien from the State of Ohio was put in place that the building will always be a senior center.

“That was brokered when the building was sold,” Hall said. “We all agree that we want the best for our seniors. From our board perspective, how do we get to the level where we can best support our seniors? But using the county’s dollars causes a different system of checks and balances. Under our control we can make it your dream.”

Hall also said the county has avenues of gaining grant funding the current senior center board wouldn’t have at its disposal, which could bring in additional funding to provide the center with resources and programs that are designed to benefit the county’s seniors.

Ervin said one concern is that should the county take over, would it opt to cut certain county-wide services? It is currently with Meals on Wheels and other programs. Coshocton cut services down to only residents in the city limits of Coshocton. Would they do likewise in Millersburg?

“If you take over, what’s to stop you from doing that,” Ervin said.

Hall said they are county commissioners and serve the county, not one part of it.

Misty Burns, director of human resources for the county, said one other detail is that if the senior center would come under the county’s umbrella, all employee positions would need to be reposted by law, noting current employees could be rehired.

Strouse said she would take the information discussed back to the senior center board for further discussion, noting the center currently has enough funding to move forward for at least another year.

She also asked for something in writing with specifics.

The commissioners said their goal is the same as the senior center board, where the seniors come first.

“We’re not pointing fingers at anyone. We are basically saying, ‘How do we come together with the county taking the lead?’” Hall said. “This is not a hostile takeover. We want to use our knowledge and expertise to help. I think we can create a stronger senior center through this process.”

Strouse said she would like to continue communicating to flesh out the best possible solutions for the seniors.