The Korth Senior Center Building Board in Stockton is seeking to revise and renew its lease agreement with Care Connection, the Cedar County Area Agency on Aging Network affiliate, in an effort to expand use of the facility and address rising operating costs.
The Friends of the Stockton Senior Center, a nonprofit organization, and its building board manage the property at 309 Englewood Road. The organization provides maintenance and covers utility costs, including gas, electricity, water and sewer.
State and federal funding through the Older Americans Act, the primary economic driver for Area Agency on Aging affiliates, has decreased or remained stagnant, while energy consumption and costs have increased because of record-breaking temperatures. The current contract and funding for the building board have remained the same for at least seven years.
The board is seeking to revise the contract to allow weekend use of the facility, including its kitchen, for fundraising events and private rentals.
In addition, the board has coordinated with the Veterans Affairs Administration for a site survey team to assess Stockton, the senior center and the feasibility of hosting Missouri’s first VA telehealth station.
The addition could provide opportunities for other grants and funding for building and property improvements while giving the area’s aging veteran population direct access to veterans care. The service could also alleviate long drives to Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri, or Fayetteville, Arkansas.
For years, Care Connection and the Area Agency on Aging have provided meals, senior health and wellness programs, and a place for seniors to gather.
The proposed revision is intended to maintain current services for the community’s seniors while expanding use of and access to the facility for residents throughout the county.
