The entity that runs the Licking Bridge Builders Senior Center has announced that it is breaking off its agreement with the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging (SWMOA).
Center Director Cindy Wampner said the decision was made last week in a vote by the center’s board.
“It’s a done deal,” Wampner said. “I know it has been reported that we’ll be having a board meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 10, but I already have the agenda laid out for that, and it won’t be talked about at that meeting.”
Wampner said details about the board’s move would not be available until SWMOA had received a letter mailed Monday, but the decision reportedly involved disagreements between the two public bodies.
SWMOA serves 37 senior centers in 17 counties and has a board made up of a representative of each county. Its CEO, Starr Kohler, said it annually spent about $70,000 on operating costs of the Licking Senior Center (including meals, utility bills, transportation and more).
“I don’t get it,” Kohler said. “It has been a long journey for us, but our board has tried to be very cautious at each step so that people who need information could best make the judgment that will carry the future of that center.”
The Houston Senior Center is also affiliated with SWMOA and has provided the Licking center with those meals.
Among other things, the Licking center’s decision to be independent of SWMOA means Houston will now assume the task of transporting SWMOA-funded meals to clients formerly served through the Licking center.
“I’m totally perplexed by it because I don’t understand why this is happening,” Houston Senior Center director Bernadine Hohlt said. The SWMOA pays for the food, for the building, for one employee – I don’t get it. I’m confused.”
Kohler said she was saddened as well as perplexed by Licking’s breakaway, but the SWMOA would simply focus on tasks at hand.
“We have lots of places in 17 counties that are begging for help,” she said. “They’re moving a different direction and I wish them the very best. I hope they find a philanthropic miracle or something very good in terms of volunteerism to keep that center moving forward in a very positive way.
“I’m baffled by this, but at the same time I want to honor the community in Licking. I don’t wish to disrupt any native network of support there. Certainly, our goal is to help and not harm in any way.”