WEIRTON — The Greater Weirton Senior Center is seeking support from Weirton Council, with officials saying if something isn’t done soon, the center may have to close its doors for good.
Representatives of the senior center were in attendance Tuesday for an informational workshop held by city council at the Weirton Municipal Building.
Chuck Svokas, president of the board of directors for the senior center, reported the center is planning to reopen July 9 after shutting down its services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, additional costs and guidelines have resulted.
“We’ve run into some issues we didn’t have before the pandemic,” Svokas said.
The center will operate 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays. In addition, Svokas said, there will be a need for regular cleaning and disinfecting, along with other safety measures. That will require the hiring of a part-time director, a part-time janitor and a part-time secretary, with a total cost of $19,968 for the three positions.
Svokas said a contribution from Weirton Council of between $20,000 and $25,000 a year would cover those costs and keep the center viable.
Svokas explained they receive $10,000 a year from a tenant and $10,000 a year from the Hancock County Commission. The center receives no funding from the state as it is not recognized as part of the system of senior centers in West Virginia.
Traditional fundraisers, such as Bingo, have brought in little, and, in some cases, actually lost money, Svokas said. If support is not found, Svokas feels they can go as long as the end of the year.
“That’s probably going to be the end of the senior center,” he said.
Svokas acknowledged Weirton Council has provided support for several improvement projects at the center, but they need a regular source of funding.
Mayor Harold Miller recognized the contributions of the senior center to the community, saying it is among the assets drawing attention to the community.
“It would behoove us to seriously consider all of these services,” Miller said. “It’s time to belly up.”
Former state senator Edwin J. Bowman, who also was in attendance at the workshop in his capacity as chairman of the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation, noted, when he was serving in the state Legislature, he had attempted to get the Weirton Senior Center recognized by the state. He recommended speaking to the current legislative representatives for the area to see if they could attempt the same now.
“Then, they would have a steady revenue stream,” Bowman said.
No decision was made by council on the request.
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