Dear editor:

As chair of the Powell Senior Citizens Center Building Committee, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Graff’s for their past service and participation in many Powell Senior Center activities. Their recent presentation (to this page) of the issues were largely correct and well presented, however, there are a few details that need to be addressed.

As the Graff’s point out, we have explored many funding avenues and have not been successful to date. However, new avenues have opened up the possibility of joining with the City of Powell in a mutually beneficial endeavor. We have entered into discussions with the City of Powell to develop a long term agreement whereby the city would own the physical Powell Senior Citizens Center (PSCC) facility with PSCC as a long-term lessee. To this end, PSCC purchased the old VFW building, demolished and cleared the site; and then donated that land to the City of Powell. Therefore, all future funding, for capital construction, will flow through the city. This will remove any issues of a private 501(c)3 organization receiving taxpayer support for capital expenditures. PSCC and the city are taking continuous actions to accomplish funding. PSCC has greatly appreciated Mayor John Wetzel’s full support and actions to help achieve our shared goals. The ‘dilemma’ has turned up new opportunities!

Again, it is true that estimates to build an adequate Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant facility have greatly increased. The estimate (via architect) is $7.3 million in September 2025. Obviously, there will be no building by September 2025. While this is a staggering amount for a modest facility, it is the way it is!

As might be expected, I do take exception with the criticism that ‘the board of directors remains relatively inert’ in matters managerial. While the Graffs have had some questions about management issues that did not coincide with the whole board, there has never been a time when ideas were not heard and acted upon. When a board’s action does not meet a board member’s position, it does not signal inertness but disagreement on an issue. I appreciate their concern about staff workloads, difficulty in raising operating budgets, public awareness, etc. PSCC is actively seeking ways to address each of these issues. Sourcing new revenue streams and ways of streamlining operations is an ongoing task. We are continually doing reviews and taking action!

Now to the big issue. What do we do to get a quality facility to serve a very large portion of our areas citizens? Because we have not achieved our goal to date does not mean we won’t be successful. As Mayor Wetzel has said, “This is too important, to the community, to fail.” We are working hard on a feasible strategy that will be laid out in the coming months (after input from all relevant players). The opportunity could be exciting if we can all agree on a common course. We agree totally, with the Graffs) that greater ‘public awareness campaigns to increase visibility’ are needed. We do not take our tasks lightly, and we are not inert!

Thanks again to the Graffs for highlighting this very important issue.

Sincerely,

Wes Vining

Chairman, Powell Senior Citizens Center Building Committee