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Chester Senior Center closes due to budget impasse

Posted July 30, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

The effects of the budget impasse in Springfield have hit Randolph County, as senior centers in Red Bud and Chester were forced to close their doors on Friday until at least an agreement has been reached.

Paulette Hamlin, executive director of the Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council (WEEOC), released a letter to the effected sites on Wednesday announcing the closures and said that the WEEOC had been made aware on Tuesday that it will only receive partial payment (50 percent) for the services the organization has already provided in July.

No payments for additional services will be forthcoming until the state budget is passed in Springfield. Other senior centers in the region affected by the situation are located in Waterloo and Columbia.

"I've been operating sites for the past 30 years and this is the first time something this drastic has happened," Hamlin said in a phone interview with the Herald Tribune. "It costs $40,000 to $50,000 per month for the four senior sites.

"We can't keep it open as-is without some money coming in."

Hamlin said she has been in contact with a variety of government and church officials to try and find a solution to the situation.

"I've had an overwhelming amount of support," she said. "I've had mayors, county commissioners call me, churches and everybody is trying to pitch in and help us to at least keep our Meals on Wheels program going."

Hamlin said WEEOC staff are hoping to formulate a plan in the next week. She added that she has been invited by House Speaker Michael Madigan's office to testify about the senior sites on Wednesday in front of a joint committee.

"Hopefully, I can shake something loose from Springfield," she said.

In a Friday news release, State Rep. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) said the funds that keep senior centers open are mostly federal, but the state is in charge of distributing them.

"With the budget process currently stalled, the federal funds that would provide meals, cooling centers and other services for the elderly are sitting in the state accounts, unable to be disbursed," Costello said in the release. "That is unacceptable."

Chester Senior Center Director Donna Wolters said her facility has sent out extra meals to its home delivery seniors to try and and buy them time to make other arrangements. The center's four staff members were also to be laid off at the end of the business day on Friday.

"These (seniors) can't cook their own food, don't have transportation; I don't believe they have family to help," Wolters said. "The people that come in here, the van picks them up and brings them here. They're going to be eating by themselves.

"Part of a senior center itself is that you're able to socialize with other people, you're not alone in your home."

Wolters said the center's Meals on Wheels program distributes an average of 41 meals per day. The center averages between 35 and 40 people per day who come to socialize, play games and participate in other activities.

Seniors who chose to speak to the Herald Tribune expressed a common concern of what they were going to do after the facility's closure.

"To do it suddenly like this is beyond cruel and inhuman," said Stanley Webster, who is one of the center's Meals on Wheels drivers and a Vietnam Veteran. "If (Gov. Bruce Rauner) was one of them, I'm sure he wouldn't want it done to him, I'm sure."

Webster called the situation as holding the seniors "hostage."

"A billionaire has no idea what these people are going through and it doesn't seem like he cares either," he said.

Most of the seniors levied the blame for the situation on Rauner, the first-term Republican who has been battling the Democrat-led Legislature over a new budget. The state is preparing to enter its fifth week without an overall budget in place.

"It seems like everything that is being helpful is what they want to take away," said Marlene Eckert.

"I've talked to some of the seniors who are almost bedridden on that (Meals on Wheels) route and that's the only way they are going to get any food," said. Cal Grannemann. "Some of them don't have family. If they have family, they can get by, but if they don't have family, they're going to be in trouble."

During Friday's meeting of the County Board, Chairman Marc Kiehna also weighed in on the situation.

"I'm a little worried about this because sometimes when I think about decisions, I think worst-case scenario and some of these people could go without being fed," he said.

Kiehna later said he would explore the possibility of providing meals for the county's most needy seniors.

Chester Mayor Tom Page also made the rounds and spoke with Costello and Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville), in addition to Wolters.

"I think Luechtefeld and Costello are sincere when they say that they hate for this to happen to our seniors," he said. "I felt a little better after talking to both of them."

Overall, Hamlin is hoping for a quick resolution to the budget impasse when lawmakers return to Springfield. The Senate is scheduled to return on Tuesday, while House will be back in session on Wednesday.

If you would like to voice your opinions, contact State Rep. Jerry Costello II (618-282-7284), Sen. David Luechtefeld (618-243-9014), Gov. Bruce Rauner (217-782-0244 or 312-814-2121), Speaker Mike Madigan (217-782-5350 or 773-581-8000) or Senate President John Cullerton (217-782-2728 or 773-883-0770).

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