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COA Advisory Committee records budget approval, fee increases and multiple senior program updates
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Summary
The COA Advisory Committee met Sept. 22 at the Charlevoix Senior Center, noted a previously approved 2025–26 budget, recorded modest fee increases (including a foot-clinic hike) and reviewed program and facility updates across Charlevoix County and Beaver Island.
The COA Advisory Committee met Sept. 22, 2025, at the Charlevoix Senior Center and recorded several administrative and program updates affecting senior services across Charlevoix County. The minutes note that the COA budget for 2025–26 had been approved by the board on Sept. 10, 2025, and several operational changes and program adjustments were summarized.
Wanda Carr, meeting chair, and committee members approved the meeting agenda and the minutes of the previous meeting by consent. Cathy Kessler moved to approve the agenda; Janet Kalbfell supported. Janet Kalbfell moved to approve the prior minutes; Jim Clark supported. The meeting adjourned on a motion by Cathy Kessler, supported by Janet Kalbfell.
Executive Director notes presented a package of updates. The minutes list a series of fee and service adjustments, including a foot clinic fee increase from $18 to $22. The minutes also state language described as “Increasing 59 and under to $10 and $8 for Children 12 and under”; the minutes do not specify which service(s) that line applies to and that phrasing is unclear in the record.
The Executive Director outlined a Cool Care Program tied to the County Emergency Mitigation Plan to provide fans for low-income seniors, and discussed either creating a Senior Produce Program or offering free produce in senior centers to compensate for what the minutes describe as the state’s lack of follow-through on an unspecified program. The minutes also note coordination with Manthai and Landscape Logic for fall clean-up services for low-income or mobility-limited seniors scheduled for Nov. 1, 2025.
Centers around the county reported equipment and facility updates: BASC items include a new freezer and generator, new flooring and a three-year roof projection; the Charlevoix Senior Center listed plans for a parking-lot project this fiscal year, a new dishwasher and a two-year projection to replace the gym floor; East Jordan listed a new convection oven, a single-door refrigerator and replacement of an Oliver machine.
Beaver Island-specific items included a $500 allocation toward a community-center yoga class (the minutes note prior direction not to use that community center but state the COA will proceed with the class because of its popularity), a BI Fit program through the school beginning Oct. 1, 2025, and a note that the COA has not been invoiced for a previously requested $50 contribution toward a BI clean-up after multiple attempts to obtain an invoice. The minutes report that an on-island travel club was largely boycotted by BI seniors who preferred flown trips, and that the travel-club schedule will not be offered next year; COA staff will consider alternative, cost-effective social or educational trips.
The minutes also record that Medicare Open Enrollment begins Oct. 15, 2025; the minutes say Tara and Dale Boehm will be available to assist beneficiaries.
The committee set its next meeting for 10 a.m. on Oct. 20, 2025, at Peaine Township Hall on Beaver Island.
Notes on record clarity: the minutes provide useful operational detail but contain at least one ambiguous pricing line (the “59 and under” / children wording) for which the record does not indicate the specific service or program affected. The article reflects what is recorded in the minutes without inferring unstated details.