HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-01-03 Council on Aging Summary· :. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
COUNCIL ON AGING
January 3, 2002
10:00am
Call Meeting to Order
Roll C all
Agenda Approval
,
Minutes from Prior Meeting
Old Business:
· i1. Senior Computer Lab Up and mnnlng ~.
classes have been full, next class, Jan. 21, -'
beginning class and mn six weeks long.
2. Comprehensive Plan in Planning and Zoning next
meeting Wednesday, January 9th at 7 p.m.
New Business:
1. Welcome to Bill Osbom
2. Introduce Linda Swamer
3. Common Ground Conference Jan. 29---31
4. Goals for Council 2002
5. Teleconference Site for Legislative issues
affecting Alaskan Seniors.
6. New Meals on Wheels Van
Persons Wanting to be Heard:
COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING
,JANUARY 3, 200~
KENAI ~ENIOR CENTER
10:00 A.M.
CHAIRMAN EAl~ JON~, P~IDING
MINUTES
ITEM 1.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chairman Earl Jones called the meeting to order at approximately 10'00 a.m.
was taken as follows'
Roll
Present'
Absent'
Others Present'
Osborn, Jurgensen, Jones and Fields
Hollier, Huddleston, Enfield, Nelson, Wilson
City Clerk Freas, Senior Director Craig, Councilwoman Swarner,
Roger Meeks, Sylvia Johnson and Elsie Seaman
Due to a lack of quorum, the meeting was closed. However, the group held a work
session in which the following items were informally discussed.
Announcements:
Director Craig reported the following:
· The computer lab was up and running and three classes have held which
Kathy Issak facilitated. The next beginners class will be held January 21 and
continue for six weeks.
· A work session will be held immediately following the next Planning &
Zoning Commission on January 9 to review the goals and objectives received at the
town meeting held in the fall. The seniors were encouraged to attend and participate.
· She welcomed newly appointed Council on Aging member Bill Osborn.
· Councilwoman Swarner was now the liaison to the Council on Aging.
Swarner reviewed actions taken during the last council meeting; noted the council
would be meeting with area legislators on January 4 at 8:00 a.m.; and that the
Council on Aging's interest in the construction of an assisted living facility in Kenai
would be an item that should be brought to the Planning & Zoning Commission's
attention and included in the comprehensive Plan update.
· In order to provide more cohesiveness with the Council on Aging, she
suggested holding monthly meetings with the next meeting to be held on February 7 at
10 a.m. There were no concerns voiced from those present.
· She received a notice from the State asking whether the Senior Center
would be interested in being a teleconference site for senior issues. She noted, the
teleconferences would be held on every Tuesday during the legislative session, with the
first one on January 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. She added, the teleconferences
would be advertised; would be "listen only"; and, charges for the calls would be paid
for by the Alaska Commission on Aging. Those present supported the idea.
· She suggested developing goals and objectives at their next meeting and
asked the membership to bring their ideas to the meeting.
She, Swarner and Jurgensen will attend the Common Ground
Conference in Anchorage in January. She has applied for a scholarship for the state
to pay their expenses.
The new four-wheel-drive "Meals-on Wheels" van was in the shop having
the radio installed and should be available for use next week.
Assisted Living Facility:
A general conversation was held in which the group discussed the need for an assisted
living facility in the Kenai area and how and what to do to bring the issue to the Kenai
City Council and to other citizens of the city. Comments included:
· Elsie Seaman had been asked to write an article for inclusion in the
Center's next newsletter.
At the next Council on Aging meeting, a motion could be passed to urge
the Kenai City Council to seek funding and support construction of an assisted living
facility in Kenai.
· Seaman's article could urge seniors to attend the next Council on Aging
meeting to address the assisted living facility issue.
Jurgensen suggested seniors be asked to submit different ideas and
comments of why it is important to them to have an assisted living facility in the
immediate area and then use that information in a "letter to the editor."
· It was suggested the letter to the editor be held until after the next
Council on Aging meeting.
· It was suggested calls be made to "Sound Off' and KDLL radio's public
forum, but wait until after the information is discussed with the City Council.
· A compilation of data be gathered to use in Seaman's article and the
letter to the editor, i.e. costs, levels of services and care, and costs associated.
Other Concerns:
Member Fields noted the following:
· His concerns for the need of additional sanding etc. Craig requested she
be notified when the seniors felt additional sanding is needed.
· Stated his concerns that there are often people in the housing facility
that no one knows and often times, the doors are left open and no one is keeping tabs
on who is entering the facility. Discussion followed in regard to changing key systems,
signing out of keys, notifying administration who keys have been given to by the
residents (caretakers, relatives, etc.) as the building caretakers need to be aware of
who people are, who has keys, etc.. Fields suggested seniors could volunteer to fill in
the hours when the building caretakers are not in the office to monitor the front door.
The work session ended at approximately 11:05 a.m.
Notes prepared by:
Carol L. Freas, City Clerk