Wayne County panel approves contract extensions to continue halal meals amid federal funding cuts

WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. — The Wayne County Committee on Seniors and Veterans Affairs on June 11 approved two related contract amendments to keep culturally appropriate halal meals available to eligible older residents in Dearborn and several western Wayne County communities despite a net reduction in federal nutrition-incentive funding.

The committee approved Amendment 2 to a three-year contract (with two one-year renewal options) with Country Chicken to continue preparing and delivering halal meals to eligible senior citizens in the Dearborn area, and Amendment 4 to a three-year agreement with the Senior Alliance to continue congregate and home-delivered meals, including halal options, in 34 communities across western Wayne County and the Downriver area. The motions were moved by Commissioner Dobb and seconded by Commissioner Wilson; the chair announced, “Motion carried.”

Wayne County Senior Services Director William Chuck Jackson told commissioners the Senior Alliance — which receives federal and state funds to run nutrition programs — notified the county of a net funding reduction of $114,031 tied largely to changes in the nutrition incentive program (NCEP). Jackson said the latest amendment included increases in some line items and reductions in others: an increase in home-delivered meal funding of about $241,000, a state increase of roughly $56,323, and NCEP reductions totaling about $410,837; congregate-meal funding rose by roughly $22,000 with a state increase of about $11,100 and an NCEP reduction of about $24,000. Jackson said those figures are rounded but that, “when you add it up and subtract it all, it comes out to a 114,000 reduction in funding overall.”

Commissioner Daub asked whether the Country Chicken contract covered all of Wayne County or only specific communities. Jackson said Country Chicken currently provides halal meals only in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, noting the service began as a pilot at the request of those communities and expanded over time. Jackson also explained the role of the NCEP funds, saying the incentive funding ‘‘is really primarily to provide incentives to increase the use of healthy nutritional food through the Older Americans Act,” and that reductions in those incentive funds can reduce service capacity.

Jackson told the committee that historically the county has been willing to cover shortfalls to avoid reducing the number of meals served. No vote tallies were read aloud during the recorded motion; the chair stated the motion carried.

The committee took the two items together and did not add amendments during the discussion. Commissioners asked clarifying questions but did not instruct staff to change program scope during the meeting.