Fowler woman seeks assistance

A countywide senior services levy will be decided this fall.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A woman implored Trumbull County commissioners to help get free meals delivered to her elderly parents in Fowler Township.
One commissioner, however, said such help comes down to demand and dollars.
Kathlyn Czako, also of Fowler, said Thursday during the commissioners' weekly meeting that she's tried unsuccessfully to get meals delivered by the county's Office of Elderly Affairs, as well as other nonprofit agencies in Trumbull and Ashtabula counties.
She said she's been told there are no meal routes in Fowler because the number of elderly people there is not high enough to justify a route.
"Help me, gentlemen," she said. "Help me and others who don't have the time for a cause. Better yet, find a creative way to fund these services."
Czako said she doesn't have time for a cause because she works and takes care of two homes -- hers and her parents.
She asked why elderly residents of Fowler don't qualify for services that people in more densely populated areas can qualify for.
Response
"Do you have a McDonald's in Fowler?" Commissioner Paul Heltzel asked rhetorically.
He said the reason is because of demand -- just as elderly meals are delivered based on demand. "That's what it comes down to, is dollars and cents."
Heltzel added that the Office of Elderly Affairs is operating on a budget that is 40 percent smaller than last year because of budget cuts made in many departments.
A countywide 0.75-mill, five-year levy is on the ballot this November for senior-citizen services. The levy would raise $2.6 million per year. Gary Engstrom, Office of Elderly Affairs director, said there is now no county-run meals route in Fowler.
Money from the five-year levy would go toward meals, transportation and other services for the elderly such as help with bathing and housework. Engstrom didn't specifically address whether the levy passage would help Czako's parents.
Housing agency
In another matter, commissioners met in executive session to further discuss selection of a site or building to house the combined Job and Family Services/Child Support Enforcement Agency.
Bruce Sekanick, an architect with Phillips-Sekanick of Warren, said he is helping the commissioners continue to sort through the financial issues related to the eight proposals on the table.
Among the major issues are utility costs and leases. He said he hopes to provide the commissioners with enough information to decide by next week whether to buy, lease or build facilities.
Most of the proposals under consideration involve buying or leasing existing buildings in Warren or Niles. Two other proposals are for new construction on U.S. Route 422 near the former Fiore's Restaurant or behind the county Administration Building on High Street downtown.
runyan@vindy.com