With neither city nor county taking the lead, seniors are left to manage in cramped facility

After four years of discussion and planning, it appeared Grantsville's seniors were finally going to see their outmoded senior citizens center expanded and renovated when Tooele County Commissioner Bruce Clegg stepped in last April. Clegg promised he would have the county take the lead on expanding the cramped, run-down facility, saying, "We're going to have to juggle money around, but we're promising that we're in the starting stages."

It's been a year since that announcement but there is still no concrete plan or timetable for the expansion.

Grantsville City and Tooele County officials say the project has stalled for multiple reasons.

"Right now, the city owns the land and the building, and though the county wants to get things going, we're waiting for Mayor Anderson to give it the OK," said Grantsville Senior Citizens Center Director Diane Caldwell.

Caldwell said she's been lobbying for improving the 24-year-old center for the past four years. Plans have included adding on a new kitchen with adequate freezer and cooking space, and ventilation hoods over the oven; a dining room to allow visiting seniors to eat together, rather than in shifts; an expanded crafts room; a new boiler; and two new bathrooms.

"We also want to get brand new equipment, including a new dishwasher, refrigerator and copier, because it would cost more to try and fix what we have that's broken," said Caldwell.

Clegg said part of the holdup is deciding who's going to own the building or eventually remodel it.

"The building is owned by Grantsville City, but they looked at the possibility of giving it over to the county to be upgraded," he said. "However, the seniors in the area had a problem with giving it to the county, and there was resistance because of a tax situation. Right now, it should be Grantsville's decision of what to do with a building they own."

Even though Grantsville City currently owns the center, Caldwell said Tooele County takes care of the building and helps purchase different necessities for it.

Butch Dymock, director of aging and adult services for Tooele County, agreed that because Grantsville City owns the building, "it's up to them to get things moving." He thinks the delay is mostly down to lack of funding.

"Members of the city and the senior citizens center board are trying to get large sums of money for the expansion project, but money is not something you can always have," he said. "I think the county will also do what it can to help. We have to be patient and keep focusing on working toward our goal."

However, Caldwell said many Grantsville seniors are losing patience.

"The seniors here are very discouraged because we have been talking about wanting to remodel for so long, and because the community is growing so much there is a big need for more space at the center," she said. "Tooele County wants to go ahead with the expansion, but Grantsville City has put stoppage on it."

Grantsville Mayor Byron Anderson could not be reached for comment on the issue.

Merrellyn Solmonson, president of the Grantsville Senior Citizens Center board, said the center is indeed overcrowded.

"In our dining room, we have to rearrange things to have exercising, quilting, dancing, puzzles and games, entertainers, special dinners, Christmas parties, and other activities held there at different times," she said. "Our packed craft room also has to be used as a place where people get their hair cut. Every room now has multiple uses, and we have no real room to store things like exercise equipment or ceramics either. I hope we can get the city and county working together to solve this problem."

Jerry Edwards, vice president of the senior citizens center board, said the center just isn't keeping pace with the growth of Grantsville. He also said local groups like the Daughters of Utah Pioneers have been using the center for their meetings.

"This place is not only a senior center, it is also a civic center for a lot of different things that are not senior-related," he said. "It's the biggest non-denominational building we have for use in town, and anybody can use it. We even had a funeral here one time."

Caldwell said members of the senior citizens board have also been looking for grants and asking residents and businesses around town for donations to help with the expansion. She said that they have been somewhat successful in receiving donations so far, and that members of the board are anxious to get the process started as soon as possible.

"Merrellyn and Jerry, as well as Bruce Clegg, would really like to see this expansion start soon, but we'll have to just wait and see," said Caldwell. "It would be nice if they could start something this year."

dougrad@tooeletranscript.com