Cuesta–Amalia senior center lease approved; community leaders say services returning after six years

Taos County commissioners on Aug. 5 approved a lease with the Cuesta school district that will allow the county to reopen a senior center in Amalia, county officials said.

Don Romero, a senior program representative from the community, thanked the commission and said residents have been "without services in this area for almost 6 years now." He described plans for the site, including a billiards room, exercise area, arts-and-crafts space and meal service that would reduce travel for home-delivery meals.

County Manager Brent Jaramillo briefed commissioners on staffing: the program will have a site manager and a driver in place, and the county is recruiting a cook under the Senior Employment Program (a four-hour-per-day position for applicants age 55 and older). "We'll be fully staffed once we get that," Jaramillo said.

Why it matters: Community members said reopening the facility will provide a place for seniors to gather and for grandparents who care for grandchildren to spend time together. County officials said the site is a larger building that can support intergenerational activities and that they plan to coordinate with the Cuesta Independent School District and local partners to expand youth access to unused spaces.

Next steps: County staff said they are finalizing staffing and expect to begin furnishing and outfitting the space, and that construction and maintenance work will address HVAC, ice-melt and parking-lot needs before full programming begins.