BENTON – Robert Fowler, representing Marshall County senior citizens, is the Chairman of the Marshall County Advisory Committee on aging and Chairman of Marshall County Senior Citizens, Inc.
Fowler spoke on behalf of the county’s senior citizens voicing their concerns, reading from a letter he provided to the Fiscal Court members that began with information that dates back to 2006 concerning the closing of the South Center in Hardin due to lack of participation on July 19, 2006.
Improvements to the Hardin center were expected for it to remain open and did not occur but still today remains open part-time with full time pay and benefits to it’s director.
Fowler made several more points, among those the recent loss of the Calvert City center director and addition of a new part-time director with no benefits as specified by PADD.
The Benton director passed away at which time her assistant was promoted to take over during the transition period but has since stepped down to allow the Calvert City director to take over at Benton full time.
Fowler said the transition went smoothly but county senior citizens are forced to drive further distances.
Fowler said there is a short fall in their funds from various entities through PADD, their controlling body, and said they understand that. But what Fowler questions is how funds come into the Marshall County Senior Citizens program and does not come to the attention of the advisory committee.
Another point Fowler made concerned Senior citizen meals that are no longer prepared by the Exceptional Center kitchen. An agreement has been formed with Paducah’s center to prepare the meals temporarily.
Preparation of meals will probably fall to the Central Center at Benton, which Fowler said they have information that county money was used to purchase a major portion of the kitchen equipment that will be needed.
Fowler requested the Fiscal Court look into getting the equipment, which is currently sitting idle according to him, “with no plan to use it”. Going on to say, the equipment is needed to bring the kitchen up to standards.
Marshall County Senior Citizens, Inc. and the Marshall County Committee on Aging would like input from the Fiscal Court on their issues of concern, according to Fowler.
Commissioner Dr. Rick Cocke felt this issue deserves another forum where it can be discussed at length with all concerned parties in attendance.
“I have met on several occasions with these boards”, Cocke said.
Cocke said he has heard their desire to restructure the county’s Senior Citizen program.
According to Cocke, the state has cut the county program by well over $120,000 as well as the Fiscal Court making a cut of $17,000.
A Special-Called meeting will take place on Monday, July 27, 2015, in the Fiscal Court room at 4:00 pm and is open to the public.