LISBON County commissioners to take over program

Program participants are given work and their wages are federally funded.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners say they are assuming oversight of a program that finds jobs and provides job training for low-income senior citizens.
Commissioners said Wednesday that they are trying to reach an agreement with Mature Services, a private nonprofit agency from Akron, to run the program.
The agency would be paid from a $291,000 annual federal grant.
The Columbiana County Mental Health Center has operated the job program, known as Senior Aides, for years.
Senior Aides benefits about 50 county residents age 55 and over who have low income. The program gives participants jobs at area government agencies and private nonprofit organizations.
The work provides participants an income and offers on-the-job training.
The seniors are typically paid about $5.15 an hour for part-time work, with their wages coming from the $291,000 annual federal grant.
In-kind services
Commissioner Jim Hoppel said the county is taking over the program because the mental health center no longer can afford to run it without about $36,000 annual funding from the county.
Commissioners say they can assume oversight of the program and use in-kind services instead of putting up $36,000 a year, Hoppel explained.
The in-kind services would consist of time donated by managers at sites where the seniors work. The managers would spend time training the workers, commissioners explained.
They said some senior citizens who participate in the program have expressed concern that it will end because the mental health center is no longer running it.
Commissioners offered assurances that the program will continue uninterrupted.
"This is a very important program for our senior citizens," Hoppel said.