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Home My WebLink About2001-09-06 Council on Aging PacketCOUNCIL ON .... AGING September 6, 2001' lO:OOam Call Meeting to Order Roll Call Agenda Approval Minutes from Prior Meeting Old Business: 1.. Senior Computer Lab · New Business: 1. Intro. To Linda SnOw 2. Policy on Transportation 3. Comprehensive Plan for Kenai 4. Alaska Housing Feasibility Study due out in Oct. 5. Goals for Council on Aging Persons wanting to be Heard: 1. Clarence Ladd COUNCIL ON AGING . o President: Earl Jones 283-4075 Vice President: Joanna Hollier- 283-7756 Members: Dick Fields---283-7295 Arlene Enfield - 283-5077 · Betty Nelson - 283-5144 Sam Huddleston -283-9443 Dick Jurgensen -283-0563 Bill Osborn-'283-4936 Fiocla Wilson----283-4550 Councilwoman Pat Por~er--283-4348 · City Clerk Carol Freas---283-4936 (Recording Secretary) Dimctor-Rachaol Crai§-283~863 ~T°:. i"Soldotna seni°~en~or citizens. . ~"~. 'Fro~: ... : ..DaVe..CareY',.MaYo'~Of Soldotna ) ~'' .~i ,~'~ .SUb]ec~t: senior. citizens'.. RentaI sales TaX_Exemption.. ~ DearSoldotna Area Citizens:" ' .. .*./.".i......~. ~.-. Tw?nty years ago, the'Kenai PeninsUla.Borough. in c°'njUncti°n With'~the'~tatei°f AlaSka Placed 'an eXemption 'on ..._ property taxes for. Senior citizensi mhis~meant that the senior , citizen did not have to pay. Proper~y taxes on their primary . residence~and.the land t°'which~it'was attached. This .. "constituted a great, savings for the senior citizen wh° owned · Property and a loss-for the BOrough-and the Service Areas within .. · mm--m mm tne.uorougn. . .- ~ ~ · · . Those seniOr citizens who are nOt. fortunate enough to own their primary reSidence are r~quired to rent a residence and pay ..5% sales tax, up to $25 per month, on the rental property, in which they live' I would like to. see the citY ofSoldotna exempt ~or WaiVe. the Sales. tax for senior citizens for the_monthly ren_~ mey are now paying. This ~s 3% of.the total 5%~sales tax .~ Charged. I. am also hoping that the Borough will work with 'the --' City .of Soldotna and grant an exemption on the 2% they charge. · This would mean a 5%'per month'savings. ~ . . · I believe the savings that the senior citizens Would generate frOm this reduction .in rental sales tax would remain in the local area. Those senior citizens who rent are of significantly lower economic status than those who own their- own property and receive a Borough and'City property tax .... exemption.~ The money saved by these Senior citizens Would[be spent for medicine,' groceries', and°ther~basic necessities. " ,/~ · ' ' mm' ' · I believe this to be a matter of jUstmce and famrness. At, the Sept. 26th Soldotna City CoUncil meeting this will be addressed.. Your input would be greatlY appreciated. ,) COUNCIL ON AGING JUNE 14, 2001 KENAI ~ SENIOR CENTER 10:00 A.M. CHAIR EARL T. JONES~ PRESIDING ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Chairman Jones called the meeting to order at approximately 10'02 a.m. Roll was taken as follows' Present: Wilson Absent: Others present: Public: ITEM 2: Hollier, Huddleston, Jones, Jurgensen, Enfield and Fields and Nelson City Clerk Freas, Director Kelso, Incoming Director Craig, Councilwoman Porter, Councilwoman 'Swarner, ,Jan ,Johnson Sylvia ,Johnson, Dick and Gloria Dornberger, Representative Chenault AGENDA APPROVAL Chair Jones requested Bill Dornberger be added to the agenda as Item 4b to discuss assisted living facilities. MOTION: Member Hollier MOVED for approval of the agenda as amended and Member Huddleston SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- March 12,2001 MOTION'. Member Hollier MOVED for approval of the minutes as presented and Member Huddleston SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. ITEM 4: SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT Jan Johnson -- Central Peninsula General Hospital/Input for a Possible Geriatric Unit. Johnson explained the hospital is investigating the upgrading of their geriatric health care program in order to serve the senior generation and those who care for them more wholly. Johnson asked those present for their suggestions and comments. They were as follows' · Better communication for older people Who may have accompanied their friends to the hospital and are awaiting news from the doctors/nurses, etc. · Better attention to patients who may be hearing impaired and have no family support. They are alone and frightened. If hearing impaired, write information down that can be read by the patient. Call a Senior Center for representation. Have more "call~' buttons available for sight-impaired patients. decreased. Encourage the costs of prescription drugs to be Include a breakdown of prices on billings or "enlarge" the statement on the bills that a breakdown of costs is available upon request. · Make sure people with diabetes or other illnesses are lucid and understand what procedures are being done when admitted. · Have on staff a geriatric specialist who can determine whether a tenant in the housing facility requires alternative living arrangements and who really understands eider care. COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING JUNE 14, 2001 PAGE 2 · Encourage a geriatric doctor to come on staff who can make sure mixed medications are working in harmony, appropriate elder care, etc. · Encourage more family support through support group training sessions with a geriatric facilitator. Johnson noted some of the hospital's goals in this regard included providing health and care; independence in living; and strength and function. Some services theY have available are' Cardiac rehabilitation (exercise classes, etc.). It was suggested there were lots of activities available, however an effort should be made to better advertise what activities (exercise classes, swimming, etc.) are available. A nutritionist is on staff at the hospital and could be available for menu advice. It was noted the Center's menus are approved by the State prior to serving. Because the Centers do not do specialty meals, delivery could be worked out with the Centers and hospital. · Nail and foot care is badly needed. Transportation for cardiac rehabilitation i.s needed. More educational programs are needed to be held at the Center -- doctors are not always available. · Chore services, i.e. snow removal, lawn services, etc. are needed and could be worked out with different service organizations. It was suggested Johnson kontact Love, Inc. · The hospital could do the "bill help program" instead of the Center. · The hospital could augment senior advocacy programs, i.e. family support, elder abuse, information, etc. · More information is needed on the "Lifeline" billing-- what the bill is for and for what month, etc. Johnson requested the seniors contact her if they have additional comments or concerns. COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING JUNE 14,2001 PAGE '3 4-b. Bill Dornbert~er -- Assisted Living Facilities Dornberger noted he has lived in Alaska for 20 years and is retired. He explained, frOm his experience in caring for his mother and now his father-in-law, he and his wife have a desire to develop an assisted living facility in Kenai. They feel strongly an assisted living facility is needed in the area and feel it's a responsibility to the community and to their friends to investigate it more closely. Dornberger also explained he has no experience in running such a facility, but was in business for forty years and is an entrepreneur. Dornberger also explained he would run such a facility as a for- profit business and did not want the aid of grants or government to develop it. He has already received interest from others in the area to participate in the development through investments of $100,000 each. He has no prospectus or plan at this time, just an idea and had no specific site in mind. Dornberger added, he did not envision having such a project underway until June 1, 2002. Porter confirmed the city was not actively looking for grants for an assisted living facility, but is very interested in having one located within the community. She recommended Dornberger speak with Mayor Williams who has stated his enthusiasm for such a project. She also suggested he contact the Borough Planning Department for senior population statistics. A brief discussion followed regarding for-profit versus community elder care and how increased costs would affect a for-profit facility. Dornberger noted his primary concerns in investigating the development of a facility were 1) help; 2) need in the community; and 3) profit. Porter noted there was a lot of difference in what is needed to run an assisted living facility in comparison to the congregate housing facility. She noted, she would report on the discussion with the council. Representative Chenault stated he COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING JUNE 14, 2001 PAGE 4 would have his office investigate the possibility of grants and funding sources through the state and/or federal government for assisted living facilities. ITEM 5: OLD BUSINESS 5-a. Senior Computer Lab -- Kelso reminded the members she had applied for a grant for upgrading the internet service and computer connections, etc. for the computer lab which had been developed through donations from Phillips Petroleum, Tesoro and the City (technical assistance). She recently received notice the application was denied due to the Center being a department of the city and because they receive substantial funding from United Way. It was suggested Kelso write a letter to the telephone company and explore the funding possibility further. ITEM 6: NEW BUSINESS 6-a. Rachael CraitI Introduction-- Kelso introduced Rachael Craig, the new director and noted Rachael had 12 years of experience in different areas of senior care, etc. Craig stated the Center was a wonderful facility; the Kenai community was warm and friendly; and she looked forward to working with the seniors. 6-b. Annual Budt/et -- Kelso referred to the information included in the packet and noted the largest funding source was the Alaska Commission on Aging, who would be increasing their funding by $8,000. She noted, the extra funds would be used toward the cost of food. ITEM 7: PERSONS WANTING TO BE HEARD Member Wilson suggested back-up battery-operated lights be placed in the restrooms at the Center for safety reasons. Kelso COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING JUNE 14, 2001 PAGE 5 stated she would request city maintenance to investigate the possibility. ITEM 8: ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Member Hollier MOVED for adjournment and Member Huddleston SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. The meeting adjourned at approximately 11'30 a.m. Minutes transcribed and prepared by' Carol L. Freas, City Clerk COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING JUNE 14, 2001 PAGE 6