By Carol Broeder

Arizona Range News

October 13, 2010

The Willcox Senior Learning Center held its ribbon cutting ceremony amidst “the hustle and bustle of Rex Allen Days,” while a Nov. 15 grand opening is planned.

“The opening of the long awaited Senior Learning Center is one step closer. On Saturday, Oct. 2, amidst the hustle and bustle of Rex Allen Days, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords did the honors and cut the ribbon for the new building,” said Tracy Zerkle, Learning Center Director.

She added that “in true community spirit” representatives from both local and state government, as well the Willcox Rotary Club and the Willcox Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture joined Northern Cochise Community Hospital staff, board members, and local seniors to celebrate this event.

Giffords praised both hospital CEO Harley Smith and the city “for their efforts and collaboration that made the center a reality.”

She commended plans to “offer evidence-based health programming,” noting that federal funding is only available for these types of programs, proven to be effective.

Willcox Mayor Sam Lindsey told the audience that while it has been “years in the making,” many people have been instrumental in the planning and development of the senior center, and can take credit for it.

After the ribbon cutting, NCCH received donations totaling $3,000 — $2,500 from the Chamber of Commerce and $500 from the local Rotary Club.

Smith accepted the donations, saying that the money would be used to furnish and equip the senior center.

Zerkle gave attendees a brief tour of the new facility, even though construction has yet to be completed.

Barring any unforeseen construction delays, Zerkle expects the center will be open by mid-November.

The new facility includes “areas for the noon meal, two large classrooms in which older adults can participate in classes, including exercise, health, art, language and consumer interest,” she said.

The city and the hospital are currently recruiting five older adults on the learning center’s community advisory council.

“This council will act as a steering committee to insure the needs of all older adults will be represented and programming will be designed to meet those needs,” Zerkle told the Range News.

Letters of interest should be mailed to the attention of Tracy Zerkle, Learning Center Director, Northern Cochise Community Hospital, 901 W. Rex Allen Dr., Willcox, Ariz. 85643.

Plans are in the works for a contest to name the senior center, but Zerkle is waiting for the memo of understanding (MOU) between the hospital and the city to be finalized.

“One of the clauses states that the advisory council will choose the name,” she told the Range News.

“I think it is best to wait until we have that council in place.”

The Willcox City Council approved that memo of understanding in its consent agenda on Oct. 4.

At its Sept. 27 special meeting, the council met to review the city’s proposed agreement with the hospital in providing senior services.

Some changes were made to the draft agreement as a result of that meeting.

NCCH has four vehicles with which it provides “limited transportation services” to senior and disabled population in Northern Cochise County.

Since the city already maintains a vehicle maintenance operation for its own vehicles, the hospital asked that the city provide “normal preventative maintenance and repairs on the vehicles used for this project.”

The city will provide labor, tools, and housing at no cost to NCCH, the agreement says.

In return, the hospital will reimburse the city for any supplies, parts, and other “out of pocket” costs incurred by the city in performing preventative maintenance and repairs on its vehicles.

The city is not obligated to perform any work it does not have the knowledge or equipment to do.

In September 2009, the council chose NCCH as the entity to partner with to build a service program for seniors in this area, said City Manager Pat McCourt.

“Since that time, NCCH has actively pursued the development of a program for services to seniors,” he said.

“This includes a meals program, hiring of staff to administer the program, expansion of the transportation program to accommodate the senior needs.”

For its part, the city has pursued a grant to construct a building and has provided (prior to elimination of state funding), monies for the transportation program, waived fees for utility hookups and building permits, and agreed to chip seal the parking lot around the senior building, said McCourt.

At its July 6 meeting, the council approved and adopted the Special Project

Grant, authorizing the required city match of $23,750 (in in-kind services) for the Housing and Urban Development grant of $95,000 requested by the Office of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords for fiscal year 2010-11.