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El Dorado Senior Center director details membership growth, services and facility needs
Summary
Christina Trina, director of the El Dorado Senior Center, told the city commission the center serves about 435 members, provides up to 60 meals daily, and is negotiating funding through a five‑year MOU with the city; the center requested facility repairs and accessibility upgrades.
Christina Trina, director of the El Dorado Senior Center, briefed the El Dorado City Commission on the center’s history, funding, operations and facility needs, saying the center currently serves 435 active members and provides up to 60 meals a day.
"Our mission is simple but impactful to provide a safe, welcoming space where older adults can connect, thrive, and continue living meaningful lives," Trina said. She told commissioners the center was founded in 1989, expanded with a 6,000‑square‑foot facility in 1993 and added 4,000 square feet in 2004. The center operates under a five‑year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the city that is set to be renegotiated in 2026 for the 2027 fiscal year.
Trina outlined funding sources and program requirements. She said a significant portion of the center’s funding comes through a contract with the Butler County Department on Aging; the center currently receives the highest eligible level of that funding on a quarterly basis. The remainder of its funding, Trina said, comes from the city’s general fund (annual), donations, grants, fundraisers, membership dues, user fees and building rentals.
Trina listed program standards the center satisfies in order to receive county funding, including publishing a monthly newsletter, offering at least 65 educational activities a year, and serving a minimum of 6,000 new meals annually. She described partnerships with organizations such as Head Start and the Sunlight Advocacy Center and noted outreach activities led by members, including drives and craft projects benefiting local children and families.
Facility needs Trina raised included two additional ADA‑accessible toilets for the men’s restrooms, handicap parking signs on the north side of the building, brighter parking‑lot lighting, automatic doors on the north side, resealing windows and sidewalk repairs to reduce trip hazards. Trina asked commissioners to visit the center and noted several upcoming public events where commissioners could see operations firsthand.
Commissioners and public comments during the meeting included praise for the center and its new leadership. A member of the center’s board, Terry Bolin, spoke during public comment to thank Trina and urged continued city support. The commission took no formal action; the presentation was informational.
