WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD- Washington County being the only county in Maryland without a senior center may become a thing of the past.
"The best case scenario would be that we could probably get some tangible work at the Willard site in 10 months," says William McKinley, a Washington County commissioner. "We believe at this time next year there will be action there."
"I think it's about time. They've sat around and fooled around for years," says Bob Snyder, a concerned senior.
Seniors at the senior forum demanded answers from the state delegation. They wanted to know if the county has been "lollygagging" with the project.
"Being the only county in the whole state of Maryland with 23 counties and the city of Baltimore that doesn't have a senior center I'm all for it," says Russ Wingerd, another concerned senior. "I think we need one."
State officials assured the community the $800,000 in federal grant money will not leave the county, and is being used for the senior center project.
Some seniors are drafting up what they want the facility to look like.
"It will have a multi-purpose room, it'll have several classrooms, it'll have a place where we can serve some food, it'll be bright and cheery and it'll be a place where all the seniors will want to go," says Bill Beard, with the Washington County Commission on Aging.
The next step is in the hands of the city. The board of zoning appeals has to determine if the site is suitable for a senior center.
"If that all happens and they do deem that it's an appropriate place for the senior center, then the next step would be the purchase of the property from the city by the county," says Commissioner McKinley.
"The renovation will come in a lot less than $8 million and I think everybody wins," says Washington County commissioner.
All seniors are encouraged to attend the board of zoning appeals meeting on December 19th.
"The best case scenario would be that we could probably get some tangible work at the Willard site in 10 months," says William McKinley, a Washington County commissioner. "We believe at this time next year there will be action there."
"I think it's about time. They've sat around and fooled around for years," says Bob Snyder, a concerned senior.
Seniors at the senior forum demanded answers from the state delegation. They wanted to know if the county has been "lollygagging" with the project.
"Being the only county in the whole state of Maryland with 23 counties and the city of Baltimore that doesn't have a senior center I'm all for it," says Russ Wingerd, another concerned senior. "I think we need one."
State officials assured the community the $800,000 in federal grant money will not leave the county, and is being used for the senior center project.
Some seniors are drafting up what they want the facility to look like.
"It will have a multi-purpose room, it'll have several classrooms, it'll have a place where we can serve some food, it'll be bright and cheery and it'll be a place where all the seniors will want to go," says Bill Beard, with the Washington County Commission on Aging.
The next step is in the hands of the city. The board of zoning appeals has to determine if the site is suitable for a senior center.
"If that all happens and they do deem that it's an appropriate place for the senior center, then the next step would be the purchase of the property from the city by the county," says Commissioner McKinley.
"The renovation will come in a lot less than $8 million and I think everybody wins," says Washington County commissioner.
All seniors are encouraged to attend the board of zoning appeals meeting on December 19th.
