Senior center activities position contract mulled

Now that the senior center has hired a new director, the Highland Township Board of Trustees is looking to add an activities coordinator position through the Huron Valley Recreation and Community Education (HVRCE) program.

The township board is expected to make a decision on the matter tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 12, when members will vote on whether to proceed with putting together a contract with the HVRCE.

In November, the recreation and community education program presented a letter expressing interest in entering into a contract with Highland Township.

“We approached the senior center in the fall because we wanted to become more involved and provide more programs and resources to the seniors of Highland Township,” said Jeffrey Muck, director of recreation and community education for the Huron Valley School District.

The recreation and community education program proposed to enter into a one-year trial contract with the township for $18,000. The recreation and community education program would provide a 30-hour-per-week activities coordinator to the senior center, in addition to two different software resources. One program would be for facility scheduling while the other would deal with registration for recreation activities.

Another benefit to this agreement would be the senior center’s access to a wide range of facilities, programs and activities, such as computer classes, health and fitness programs, and an enhanced partnership with the Huron Valley School District.

Highland Supervisor Triscia Pilchowski said she believes that this would be a good step for the senior center.

“I see it as an opportunity with all the facility’s courses and classes available,” she said. “We can expand Highland seniors’ opportunities by promoting more to them and encouraging participation among our younger seniors. We understand this has been successful in other communities. It seems like a good fit at this point.”

Muck agrees.

“We are really excited about the partnership with Highland,” he said. “We will be able to provide opportunities not only to the active older adults but to the whole Highland community. It’s a good example of local government agencies working together to streamline and make programs and services more effective for their residents.”