Advocates for a dedicated senior center in Peoria are applauding the decision to formally establish an ad hoc township committee to study the feasibility.
“My hope is with experts around the table, we can say we’re going to commit to the wellness of Peoria,” said Peggy Jacques, the founder and executive director of Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging who has led the push for a Peoria senior center.
“I don’t know what the solution is, but with two large hospital systems and many different public health organizations, there’s a way that we can solve this problem,” she said.
Following the recommendation from Peoria Township electors in May, members of the Peoria City Council — in their roles as township trustees — unanimously approved the committee formation during Tuesday’s meeting.
Robin Henry, the chief operating officer for Solvera Health, was among the senior center advocates who addressed the board.
“When you really look at the numbers, and you look at the data, and you look at what this landscape is, this is going to affect every one of us in this room, plus our parents and our family members,” said Henry.
“Making this proactive approach into a senior community center is essential. Our population is growing rapidly. We have more than 20,000 residents already age 65 and older. By 2030, in four years, our older adults are expected to outnumber the children under 18.”
The committee will be comprised of nine members who will examine whether township funds should be used to develop a senior center, with at least three of the members age 55 or older.
“At the moment in this fiscal year, we have not allocated any funds because this came about just during the fiscal year,” said Township Supervisor LaTrina Leary. “So there is no funding allocated to a process or an initiative like this. That’s why the conversation is being had right now.”
Several trustees, in particular Mayor Rita Ali and council member Tim Riggenbach, expressed a desire to have Leary serve as the township board’s committee liaison.
Township attorney John Redlingshafer said the resolution creating the committee merely sets its powers and duties, and any potential funding mechanism for a senior center would be addressed later.
“Really, what you’re going to have is a body, at least as contemplated, that meets,” he said. “There’s not going to be any activities or any steps taken except for a report to come back to the board.”
