DICKINSON-IRON COUNTY -- Some big changes for senior centers in Dickinson and Iron Counties are scheduled to begin next month.
At Thursday's monthly meeting, the Dickinson Iron Community Service Agency's governing board voted to make major cuts to senior centers. The cuts include eliminating congregate meals in the Iron Mountain and Alpha Senior Centers, eliminating one serving day in Iron River, Crystal Falls, and Felch, and laying off two employees.
The moves could save the agency more than $65,000.
But not everyone is on board with the changes.
"I believe that the congregate meals and the home delivered meals should continue for the four days that we have it," said DICSA Board member, Janet Hendrickson. "I don't believe that it should be cut, and it is just much more important to me than some of the other programs."
"We have to live without our means just like every other household in America," said DICSA Director Jeff Heino. "We can't spend money that we don't have or dedicate money from other grant-funded programs in the agency to help out the nutrition program because that's simply not allowed."
Heino says the changes are the result of funding cuts from the state and fewer donations from seniors.
The cuts will take effect October 1.
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