Grant will pay for senior center

By By Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
It took three tries, but efforts to secure funds for a new senior center in Hartselle have finally paid off.
Mayor Dwight Tankersley was notified Monday by Gov. Bob Riley the senior center grant was approved. He and State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, County Commissioner Ken Livingston and Park and Recreation Director Frank Miller paid a surprise visit to the seniors gathered at the Sparkman Civic Center to tell them the news.
The $250,000 will come from the Community Development Block Grant program and will pay for a dedicated space for seniors at the Sparkman Civic Center. Seniors currently meet at a room at the Civic Center, but don’t have a space to themselves. The new Senior Center will also have a safe room, providing a refuge for seniors in case of emergency.
The city will provide an additional $50,000, with $100,000 more in matching funds coming from the County Commission.
Livingston, who has pledged $50,000 from Commission District Two, told the seniors he was glad to be able to assist with the project.
Tankersley said he doesn’t know when construction on the project will begin but expects it to be in the next 12 months.
Currently, an average of 39 seniors attend the senior center each day. Meals are provided with a $1.25 suggested donation, but Senior Center Director Ann Miller said they only have funding for about 30 meals a day. Donations are always welcome, she said.
Orr and Livingston said they are now working on a similar project for the Neel community. Seniors there currently meet in an old school.