Pierce Senior Center hit by hard times

Pierce Senior Center, 2302 Brookside Dr., recently had its funding reduced, according to Parks and Recreation Director Patrick Gerace. He said the county cut funding for the center from $113,000 to between $70,000 or $80,000.

He also said that since he heard about the maintenance complaints raised by seniors at a College Cultural Neighborhood Association Jan. 20 meeting, he has sent the City Hall janitor to Pierce Center for general maintenance on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for a few hours.

But he wouldn't comment about the future of the center.

"I really can't comment. Everything is on the table for the emergency financial manager's review," he said.

"The county is simply the fiduciary for all the centers in Flint. We gave them a contract that identifies eight areas of compliance needed to be funded," said Lynn Radzilowski, Genesee County senior services administrator.

Senior centers in the county are funded through a senior tax millage. The county evaluates the centers and funding is provided based on their compliance to regulations on three levels, with level three being the highest.

According to Radzilowski, the Pierce Center qualified for the lowest level of funding, level one. The remaining two senior centers in Flint, the Brennan Center and Hasselbring Center, qualified for level two funding.

"We don't want to close the Pierce Center," Radzilowski said. "But we do want to be sure they are in compliance with regulations."

The center's Director Jane Comb and two members of the senior advisory board, Caroline Glasscock and Joe Tolbert, commented Jan. 28.

"We understand that things have changed in the city with the new emergency financial manager, but we have never had much involvement from the city," Combs said.

"Gerace attended only two board meetings during 2011," Glasscock said. "The same for City Administrator Greg Eason. He was here just twice. We need more involvement by the city."

Tolbert summarized his view of the situation in a letter to the Flint Journal.

"The Pierce Community Center appears to be in danger of closing its doors. Although funded by tax dollars voted on by the citizens of Genesee County, the Pierce Center seems unable to achieve and maintain the minimum requirements mandated by the Genesee County board. Maintenance is the responsibility of the center's director who is hired and supervised by the Parks and Recreation Department of the city of Flint. Support of these employees seems to be negligible due to the budget crisis the city is experiencing. The result is a catch-22 situation for Pierce Park Center," Tolbert said.

Comb, the only employee, has been at the center for the last eight years. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays. Tuesdays the center is open from noon to 9 p.m.

Lunch is served to 10 to 35 seniors from the Genesee County Community Action Resource Department (GCCARD). Average attendance ranges from 20 to 40 seniors.

"We just received our first aid kit after years of requisitioning it from the city," Glasscock said. "Before this there wasn't a Band-Aid around. We had to use paper towels to stop the bleeding."

Combs has a background as a medical assistant and is certified in CPR and use of the defibulator that is in the medical exam room at the center.

The center stocks walkers, wheelchairs, crutches and bedside commodes in their loan closet. According to Combs, the center is always looking for donations for the closet.

Activities at the center include bingo and card games like euchre, Skip-Bo and bridge.

Quilting and scrapbooking classes are also available. Computer classes are held from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The center is available for lease for wedding receptions, graduation parties and other festivities.

Call the center at (810) 766-7424 for more information.