After nearly two years of preparation work, the possible development of an older persons? center in North Oakland County has reached one of its most crucial stages.
The Older Persons? Task Force, formerly the Seniors? Task Force, will be distributing surveys in Addison, Orion and Oxford Townships in the next couple of weeks, to see if there is interest in a combined senior center for the three areas.
The project is still a long way from the planning stages. The three township treasurers, who are heading the survey distribution, noted they are just seeing if the idea of a combined center is feasible at this point.
‘We’re looking at the conceptual phase,? said Oxford Township Treasurer Joe Ferrari at the April 7 volunteer luncheon, held at Orion Township Hall. ‘Do they want the concept??
The goal is to get 360 surveys completed in each township, meaning ten per every square mile of each 36-square mile township.
‘We’re going to work on getting the best input we can,? said Orion Senior Center Director Lisa Sokol, who hopes the surveys will yield a good representative feeling in each community.
Oakland County Commissioner Eric Wilson, who noted that meetings began in June of 2004, also spoke at the volunteer meeting.
‘This is a community effort and no tax dollars are being spent or have been spent,? Wilson said.
The volunteers will be dropping off the surveys at random and arranging times to pick them up with the residents.
‘We have about two weeks to get them all circulated and returned,? said Orion Township Treasurer Alice Young.
The survey is just five questions long and does not take long to complete.