By Steve White swhite@nebraska.tv
Facebook / Twitter @NTVsSteveWhite
Saying he was taught to take care of seniors who have already taken care of us, Hall County Supervisor Gary Quandt presses the city to restore funding to the senior center that has eroded from the level it was at a decade ago.
"They made a promise to the elderly in this community and I'm going to make sure they keep
that promise," Quandt said.
He commends Mayor Jay Vavricek for restoring funding to the Grand Generation Center.
"I was hoping to hear from Mayor Vavricek today exactly what he said and mayor followed through on his promise that he would put approximately $100,000 in this year's budget," he said.
The money comes from a half-cent sales tax hike voters approved by a narrow margin a decade ago.
Vavricek addressed the Hall County Board. He said, "When you look at sample ballot, it specifically itemizes senior, Grand Generation Center facilities so that's pretty clear. "
Less clear is the amount of money the city committed to. In the years that followed, funding was reduced, as the city cuts dollars to outside agencies.
"Like ones that went to fishing derby, those are marked to go away," Vavricek pointed out.
But Vavricek says the senior center is in a different category.
"There's a commitment. I see that. I think there is integrity that's been expressed that needs to be withheld and I think that's what people expect."
That commitment to seniors was enough for Gary Quandt to drop his campaign against the sales tax in 2004, instead supporting it, even now.
Quandt said, "As an individual I will do everything in my power to make sure a promise made is a promise kept."
County board members praised Vavricek for what they call a great working relationship. But the funding still has to go to a vote of the city council.
