Seniors outspoken against prospects of smaller center

A contingent of senior citizens voiced their displeasure Tuesday at the prospect of having to downsize a future Macon-Bibb County Senior Citizens Center in Central City Park.

About 30 men and women attended an update on the new senior citizens center plans Tuesday afternoon, where they learned that a decreasing budget could lead to reduced space. Some county commissioners suggested finding another source of funding to cover some of the costs for the relocation.

Seniors were presented Tuesday with three options, ranging in estimated construction costs of $3.5 million to about $2.7 million.

The county has $2.7 million budgeted for the project, but about $400,000 of that has already been spent on plans.

A member of the Golden Group organization said she felt the county was giving the seniors a “counterfeit check,” while the group’s president, Robert Curry Jr., spoke about how it appeared that the center isn’t receiving the same support as other projects.

“We don’t want to be left behind, Mr. Mayor,” Curry said. “Every time we come here, we lose something.”

The process of finding a new home included scouting about half a dozen sites before commissioners selected Central City Park. Seniors resoundingly supported having the new center built inside the park, situated on the edge of downtown.

The current Adams Street property has been sold to Mercer University, which is allowing Macon-Bibb to continue using the building until a new facility is built.

Commissioner Al Tillman proposed adding another $4 million in the next special purpose local option sales tax to provide the seniors with a center that would meet their desires. Macon-Bibb will have a $280 million SPLOST referendum that will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

“Under this current amount of money, we don’t have enough to give them the building and everything they want,” Tillman said. “I think $6 million would give them everything they want.”

Commissioner Elaine Lucas described some of the options to reduce the scope as “unacceptable.” The money spent on examining various locations and developing plans is putting a pinch on the county.

“I think we need to find a way to see if there is any money to restore some of the things,” Lucas said.

Two of the designs unveiled Tuesday eliminated some of the rooms and amenities originally proposed. The second option, estimated at $3 million, did not include showers, an outside, covered, drop-off area or a separate dining room.

The $2.7 million plan took out space that included computer and arts and crafts rooms, reducing the square footage from 12,600 to 8,900.

Each of the options featured a warming kitchen, a multipurpose room that could be sectioned off, a sewing room and more.

Two plans also did not include space for a nutritional program run by the Middle Georgia Community Action Agency. The agency doesn’t receive any funding from Macon-Bibb government, but it provides services that are important to seniors, said Renee Johnson, senior program director for the agency.

“We would appreciate if you would consider us (staying) in this building,” she said. “We were there before you all had a senior program.”

Mayor Robert Reichert said the county has continued to have the seniors’ best interests in mind.

“We’re all looking for the best solution to get seniors something they can be proud off, be comfortable in,” he said.

This story was originally published September 13, 2016 at 7:11 PM with the headline "Seniors outspoken against prospects of smaller center."