County approves $20,000 increase to senior meal contract as program changes delivery

The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment increasing the Copper Pot Café LLC contract by $20,000 to a not-to-exceed $95,000 amount to continue senior dining services through the end of the month and to bridge to a new delivery model that begins July 3.

Supervisor remarks and Health and Human Services staff described a popular senior meal program in North County that outgrew café capacity and that the state’s nutrition standards require certain fresh food components. Christina Cahillie said the contract increase covers meals for the remaining weeks of the current arrangement while the county launches a revised service model. "This contract specifically just needed to be increased to cover the cost of this next 3 weeks," Cahillie said.

Under the new model, staff said, one hot meal will be served weekly for communal dining at the VFW Hall in Coulterville, with two frozen meals provided for residents to take home; the same meals will be served at the senior center. Cahillie said the Copper Pot would continue to provide meals until the transition date; the existing vendor arrangement ends at the end of the month.

Supervisors asked about access for Greeley Hill residents and whether alternate distribution points or community centers could be used; Cahillie said staff would examine other locations and noted future building plans may offer additional distribution space. The board also discussed limitations of the new North County facility’s conference room capacity and acknowledged it could be used for distribution but likely not large communal meals.

The amendment was approved as part of the consent agenda that passed 5-0. County staff said the expanded program was partially supported by grant funds and that state nutritional requirements limit menu composition; the county will continue to seek appropriate locations and options for Greeley Hill residents.