Pueblo County commissioners on July 29 approved three contracts between the county (as the designated Area Agency on Aging) and the Senior Resource Development Agency (SRDA) covering congregate meals, home-delivered meals and transportation.

County staff said the state unit on aging reduced the county's award, and the three contracts include an initial funding amount and an additional amount that would be paid if the state restores the withheld 25 percent. The congregate-meals contract was listed at $207,509 initial, with an additional $68,491 contingent on state funds for a total of $276,000 (a decrease of about $64,000 from last year). The home-delivered meals contract was listed at $539,280 initial and $595,000 total after contingent funds, an increase from last year that will restore deliveries to five meals per week. The transportation contract was shown as $245,000 initial and $290,000 total, a decrease from the prior year tied to lower utilization and a prior amendment that moved unused transportation funds to other programs.

Heather Cornell, the program administrator presenting the item, said SRDA operates three congregate-meal sites (a main SRDA site, Fulton Heights and Colorado City). SRDA's main site operates five days a week; Fulton Heights serves three days (Monday, Wednesday and Friday); Colorado City has a one-day site. Eligibility for congregate and home-delivered meals is for residents of Pueblo County aged 60 and older. Cornell said home-delivered meals returned to five days per week effective July 1 and that clients apply through SRDA. County staff noted SRDA's required in-kind match for the congregate site is $30,666.

Commissioners and SRDA staff discussed transportation eligibility and scope: the contracted transportation covers rides only within Pueblo County; staff said that limitation explains why some residents request rides outside the county (to other cities or medical centers), which are not covered by this contract. Drivers generally offer return trips, but whether a driver stays with a client during an appointment depends on scheduling and other rides. Staff said SRDA is prioritizing rides for medical appointments and grocery trips when demand requires it; at the time of the presentation, staff reported no transportation wait list.

Tammy Torres clarified program match rules and assessment criteria: providers must provide a 10 percent match for all three programs, and the Meals on Wheels needs assessment is needs-based rather than medical. Commissioners approved the contracts by motion.