There’s plenty of confusion out there about the future of senior programs and facilities in Mill Creek, even within the committee established to investigate those issues.
In the group’s second meeting, members appointed by the City Council questioned their purpose and charge from the city — their role in delivering the community a senior center.
The committee was formed partly in response to a request from the Mill Creek Senior Center Foundation in September for $2 million to help fund construction of a new senior center on a site owned by the Mill Creek Community Association. At the time, council members believed the seniors were in danger of losing their space at McCollum Park and agreed to vote on the proposal in October. But news that seniors would not be evicted from their current location prompted the council to step back and investigate other options.
There is some uncertainty among committee members whether they are expected to narrow down a list of possibilities or hand the council a summary of every senior center option under the sun.
“We need to get (the council) to tell us what their issues are and what they are willing to support,” committee member and councilman Mike Todd said. “My fear is that we invest a lot of time looking at every possible option when there are clearly options that certain council members will not support. We have fundamental policy issues that have not been discussed (at the council level) and I’m not sure how to proceed with this lacking some direction.”
Several more questions came up concerning the group’s timeline and process.
“I need to understand what exactly we’re being asked to do,” former Mayor and councilwoman Kathy Nielsen said. “How are we to compile this information and what is it that we’re providing the council. Are we preparing a written document, or will we make a presentation?”
Other questions that stirred debate: Should the committee begin its work by examining the senior program and assessing facility needs or should the committee begin by identifying properties for construction.
“It doesn’t make any sense to talk about programs unless we know where we can put it,” Nielsen said.
Committee member and Mayor Terry Ryan disagreed.
“I don’t think it’s prudent to talk about the land without first understanding the needs of the program,” Ryan said. “That may dictate the path we choose.”
Financing is also an issue the committee must address. Ryan has several times expressed his interest in establishing a special taxing district to pay for construction of a facility and long-term maintenance and operations.
The committee will discuss the ABCs of taxing districts at its next meeting on Oct. 27. Committee members also hope to compile a working list of potential construction sites at that meeting.
Committee members:
Fred Fillbrook
Bill McElroy
Kathy Nielsen
Barb Athanas
Terry Ryan
Mark Harmsworth
Mike Todd
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