Board of Health approves $18K for Mingo Junction Senior Center
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STEUBENVILLE -- The Jefferson County Board of Health Tuesday approved disbursing $18,415 in Healthy Aging Grant funds with some stipulations to the Mingo Junction Senior Center for remodeling.
The board received the center's application in March for the grant funds -- awarded to the Jefferson County General Health District in November by the Ohio Department of Aging. Judy Keenan, a representative of the senior center, told the board during its regular session Tuesday that the once-booming senior center is now in a "sad" state and "in much need of a facelift."
"I just thought to myself: 'I think I could help,'" Keenan said. "I checked around and found this grant. I've never written a grant before. I thought, 'Hey, I'm going to try it, and if it works, then I'm going to be bringing something new to the center. ... (The grant) is much needed and would be much appreciated. I think it would bring people back to socialize, to have a place to come and have things to do, good food to eat -- just to be there because there's really nothing there for them to offer (now.)"
Included in the $18,415 application are specifications for purchasing new kitchen appliances, including refrigerators, stoves and a freezer; vanities in the bathroom; chairs; drop ceiling panels and computers, which Keenan said her daughter -- an IT engineer -- will help teach seniors how to use. Kitchen appliances in particular are anticipated to further the center's burgeoning lunch program for seniors.
The application also lists a $25,000 funding stretch goal to cover extra wants.
Prior to approving the request, board members raised concerns about fiscal responsibility, given that the center is not managed by a formal board of directors. Rather, an individual hired by the village of Mingo Junction directs the center, while the village itself pays the utility bills.
Health Commissioner Andrew Henry informed Keenan that grant funds are advanced to the requesting agency, necessitating a W-9 form be filled out to confirm the recipient's tax identification number. Questions were raised then about whether the village would be the recipient or another nonprofit entity, which Keenan or the center could create separately.
Ultimately, the board approved disbursing the full $18,415, provided that an accountable individual is appointed to handle the finances. The first funds would be disbursed in an amount not to exceed $5,000, giving the health department time to assess before proceeding with further funding.
Arrangements were made for the health department to speak with representatives from the village to determine what the receiving agency would be. On her end, Keenan said she intends to provide full transparency of the project, providing photos of the project -- agencies in the grant program are already required to submit purchase receipts and program reports, according to Henry.
Additionally, the board approved $2,600 in Health Aging Grant funds for the repainting of courts at the YMCA Wellness Center at St. John Arena. The project will add a fourth pickleball court and add more room for basketball courts.
Henry also informed the board that Trinity Health System's Prime Time Office on Aging has declined its $50,000 in awarded grant funds, freeing more funds for other projects.
In other business:
• The board approved a $19,118.16 purchase order to the state treasurer for first-quarter birth and death certifications.
• Henry said the health department is working on revising its strategic plan, a crucial step in obtaining legally required accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board. Board members approved updating the plan's three core priorities: Organizational capacity and infrastructure, community promotion and financial stability and viability.
• Marc Maragos, director of environmental health, reported that 24 calls were made in March to the odor complaint hotline, as well as 10 so far in April; the health department was awarded a $10,000 grant for education and outreach regarding mosquitos; all 16 food establishments that were late to renew their food license have paid their cost and fees; and the environmental staff have been busy inspecting communities affected by the recent flooding.
• Henry reported that Interstate Waste Services is rolling out its gondola unloading facility at Apex Landfill. He said the facility will allow for the intake of more construction and demolition debris to the landfill, bringing the amount closer to the landfill's 10,000-ton limit by law on total material taken in per day.
• Dr. Janie Culp, medical director, reported that Ohio is returning to lower levels of influenza and COVID-19. She added lyme disease cases are expected to rise soon, given the life cycle of ticks that carry the disease.
• Kylie Smogonovich, nursing director, reported that the health department's diaper bank served 69 children, fewer than February's 92 -- a new distribution location in Toronto will be tested out to see whether distribution times need to be adjusted, she said. Smogonovich also reported that the county has nearly matched last year's syphilis case numbers, with four so far compared to six last year.
• Stephanie Chester, director of the county's Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, reported that the county's program is redoing its service system and looking into providing online card loads, preparing for its farmers market coupon distribution and investigating rules newly approved by the United States Department of Agriculture.
• Board member Terry Bell reported that land is being sought for carbon capture developments in Carroll County and will soon be sought in Jefferson County. Bell said the technology is new and may carry with it unexpected environmental impacts.
The board's next meeting will occur May 21 at 8:15 a.m. in the second-floor community room of the Jefferson County Tower.