In response to requests from their constituents, Oakland County Commissioners Eric Wilson and William Patterson have asked the board of commissioners to discuss the possibility of having a combined senior center serving Addison Township, the Village of Leonard, Orion Township, the Village of Lake Orion, Oxford Township and the Village of Oxford.
‘People have expressed an interest to me about it, so I went out and explored it,? Wilson said. ‘I think it’s a good idea. We’re just looking to see if there is that interest (in the communities). We’re just talking to people, there’s no commitment to anybody.?
The Oakland County Board of Commissioners will discuss possibilities on June 16, when Mary Miller, executive director of the Older Persons Commission (OPC) in Rochester will be present to present commissioners with a history of OPC, and show how three communities joined together to achieve a goal of providing comprehensive area-wide senior and transportation services.
Wilson said federal Community Development Block Grant funds could help make the possibility of a combined senior facility a reality. The senior facility could also include a transportation center for the North Oakland Transportation Authority (NOTA).
NOTA is an example of communities coming together for a common project, as the senior facility would be, which is a good way to seek out grants, said Wilson
‘They like to see communities working together,? he said.
Wilson said after commissioners have discussed the idea, more details will be released for the public to consider.
‘The questions is, whether these communities are interested,? he said. ‘Bill (Patterson) and I want officials to see if there’s enough interest to proceed with this.?
Wilson said if there is interest, the board of commissioners could proceed with a feasibility study, to determine how much money would be needed for a building, possibly located in norther Orion/southern Oxford.
‘We’d need a building big enough for all three communities,? he said. ‘It would take probably a year to put this together. My parameters are, no new taxes and it has to be something seniors want.?
Wilson said OPC would serve as a model for the center.
‘Mary Miller is at least 20 years ahead of us (in developing a senior facility and transportation center),? he said. ‘We want to enhance the opportunities for every senior…right now we’re busing seniors to three different centers…it would make more economic sense to go to just one.?
Wilson said some people have asked why area residents just don’t go to the OPC, but he said that is not an option for everyone.
‘I th1ink it’s $150 for a non-resident,? he said. ‘It’s also a long drive.?