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Township supervisors tell Gogebic County board GOCAA donation requests risk senior meal access
Summary
Watersmeet and Marenisco township supervisors told the Gogebic County Board on June 25 that senior meal recipients are receiving donation requests from the Gogebic Ontonagon Community Action Agency (GOCAA); the board asked the county administrator to invite GOCAA to explain what services the millage supports.
At the June 25 Gogebic County Board of Commissioners meeting in Bessemer, Watersmeet Township Supervisor Yvonne Clark and Marenisco Township Supervisor Bruce Mahler told the board that local senior meal recipients have received donation requests from the Gogebic Ontonagon Community Action Agency (GOCAA).
Clark said Watersmeet receives 160 frozen meals each month, which residents pick up at the Watersmeet Food Pantry, and that the township used a $2,000 Gogebic Range Health Foundation grant to buy refrigeration and transport equipment. Mahler said Marenisco receives about 50 meals weekly and reminded the board that Marenisco operated its own senior meal program for 16 years while residents’ tax dollars also supported the GOCAA millage. Both supervisors said some seniors may misinterpret GOCAA donation requests as bills and expressed concern the program could end for their communities if donations are not received.
Commissioner Matonich moved, and Commissioner Wood seconded, that the county administrator contact GOCAA and request that the agency appear at a future board meeting to explain what services the senior meal millage covers and to address the donation-request practice; the motion passed unanimously. The board also thanked Emergency Management Coordinator Heidi Derosso for her help during a recent high-heat advisory.
The board did not adopt any policy changes at the meeting; the matter was recorded as a request for GOCAA to appear and explain program details. The issue remains unresolved pending GOCAA’s response and a future appearance.
