WILMINGTON — At least some recipients of Clinton County Elderly Services Program (ESP) services can expect to be surveyed in an effort to learn how seniors assess their senior services.
The likelihood of a customer-satisfaction survey came up Wednesday after County Commissioner Brenda K. Woods asked whether the language in a draft of a new contract with Council on Aging (COA) of Southwestern Ohio is strong enough to address customer service issues commissioners have been contacted about.
That’s when County Commissioner Kerry R. Steed said commissioners can see to it that a survey is conducted. He suggested commissioners and the local Elderly Services Program Advisory Board, made up of seniors and seniors advocates, formulate the survey questions.
Saying a survey can be a valuable tool, Steed said the responses will provide information that then can be shared with COA, which subsequently can look for ways to improve on any issues that may exist.
Steed is not aware of a senior services satisfaction survey being previously held.
The COA is the current administrator of funds generated from the senior services levy. And it’s the only agency that made a bid by the November 2017 deadline to administer the levy funds in the county.
In 2016, Clinton County’s Elderly Services Program helped 476 older adult residents with services such as home-delivered meals, transportation and homemaking assistance.
Clinton County Commissioners President Patrick Haley did not participate in Wednesday’s refinement of contract language. In September 2017 he recused himself from the process because his wife previously was employed by COA and has a pending administrative appeal with them, he said at the time of recusal.
In another matter, commissioners and their legal counsel added a condition to a proposed $300,000 no-interest loan commissioners are offering to the Murphy Theatre board for new seating. The basic terms include a 20-year duration with $15,000 due annually.
On Wednesday, Assistant Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew McCoy recommended commissioners avail themselves of a third-position mortgage on the theatre in order to safeguard the county’s interests in the transaction.
In the loan discussion Wednesday, Woods said she had met recently with Murphy Theatre Board of Trustees Treasurer Paul Fear. She related the theatre has outstanding loan balances of $76,000 to Peoples Bank and about $36,000 to the City of Wilmington. Haley observed, without further elaboration, that the loan from the county will put the theatre’s loan debt at more than $400,000.
Fear told Woods the theatre’s recently launched seat sponsorship program has raised in its early stages $3,500 in sponsorships.
McCoy said the county has an interest in the performing arts community theater “beyond just the dollars and cents — in making sure it stays open and remains a nice place for the community.”
On another item, commissioners said the newly paved county prosecutor’s offices parking lot, adjacent to the Wilmington KFC, is available to the general public for parking on weekends and after business hours on weekdays. What is called “regulated parking” will not be enforced during those times, they said.
Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.
