SENIOR SERVICES BOARD VIEWS DUTIES; GROUP RESPONSIBLE FOR SUGGESTING FUND ALLOCATIONS

JACKSON - Members of the Cape Girardeau County Senior Services Board met with county commissioners Tuesday night at the group's first meeting.

Robert Deneke Sr. was elected chairman of the seven-member board, and Cecelia-Sonderman was chosen vice chairman.

The board is responsible for recommending to the county commission how to spend about $220,000 in funds that will be generated from a 5-cent property tax levy for programs to benefit senior citizens.

The tax was passed in April and will be collected for the first time when 1991 tax bills are mailed out in November. According to state law, the funds can only be allocated to organizations that provide services to citizens age 60 and over.

Other members of the board include Billy Joe Thompson, Ken Lucy, Dale Rauh, Shelba Branscum and Maurice Lange.

Much of the discussion during the meeting focused on the need to establish an application form for organizations that want to apply for funding and a fair process for evaluating requests.

Sonderman explained that she had talked with members of the board in Butler County and would soon have copies of their application forms.

Deneke said there are a lot of questions that board members will need answered and that will require a number of meetings. He expressed confidence, however, that an application form could be prepared by around the first of September.

Lucy suggested it might be a good idea to survey senior citizens to determine exactly what the needs are to help in deciding how to allocate funds. Several members agreed that such a survey would be a useful tool.

At its next meeting on Aug. 6, Deneke said he hoped the group could spend some time developing a good application for groups seeking funds.

"It is important that we look over every application carefully to show integrity in how we spend this money," the chairman said.

Deneke also encouraged any organization interested in applying for funds from the senior services tax to send a letter requesting an application. He said they would be mailed to all who want them as soon as they have been prepared.

Letters should be sent to: Senior Citizens Service Fund, Cape County Administration Building, 1 Barton Square, Jackson, Mo. 63755.

Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep and Associate Commissioner Leonard Sander talked with members about their role and offered whatever assistance the county could provide.

Also on hand to share information were Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ian Sutherland and Treasurer Bill Reynolds. Sutherland will be the prosecutor's liaison with the board, while Reynolds will handle funds for the body.

Huckstep told the members they needed to have a budget on how to spend the funds by Dec. 1, to comply with the county's annual budget process. By meeting this deadline, Huckstep stressed there would also be ample opportunity for the board to answer any questions commissioners had about funding recommendations.

"We're not going to bother you; we're not going to meddle with you," declared Huckstep. "All we ask is that you keep the taxpayers' best interests at heart."

The presiding commissioner urged the board not to allocate all the money it anticipated receiving from the tax the first year because there has only been projected revenues and no track record to follow. He noted the board may also want to keep some funds set aside for unforeseen needs.

"There may be some good project that might come up during the year," said Huckstep. "Holding some back is just good stewardship."

Huckstep said he did not envy the task facing the board and remarked that there are likely to be a lot more requests for money than funds available.

"I feel sorry for you people," remarked Huckstep. "Any agency that has money is going to be popular."

Huckstep and Sander agreed to advance the board $500 from county general revenue to pay for printing and other costs of getting organized.