1992 08 21
CHANHASSENSENIORCOMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 21, 1992
Montgomery called themeetihg to order
MEMBERS PRESENT: Barbara Montgomery, Sherol Howard, Betty Bragg, Bernice
8illison,Jane Kubitz ,Selda Heinlein and Emma St . John
STAFF PRESENT: Sharll'\in AI-Jaff,Planner II; and Judy Colby,
Center Coordinator
MINUTES:
Montgomer~: Okay, let's go onto the approval of the Minutes dated June
19th . And remember we didn 't get a coypand that's sort of an
interesting story. Sharmin,do you want to tell them what happened.
AI-Jaff= About 2 weeks ago they 6aught the people that werestea~ing the
mail for the past year or so. They would ~ail in the ditch but they
could never really prove th.t certain people were. .
Was this aroundPleaeant View, that area too?
AI-Jaff: All of Chanhassen. What they were doing was putting bags in
th~ blue mailbo~es and as people put in their mail, it would get trapped
in a bag and then at the end of the day they would just come in and pull
'._.. '.. the bags out. Open all the mail.. Make the checks out 1 n their name;s
.. that were supposed to go ,to utility companies or what have you and the
rest they would throw in a ditch. So they found them. There were 5 kids
that were doing this. So that's the lieason why your agendaes didn't get
to you.
Montgomery: Yeah, because lit was a real mystery. We couldn't figure out
what. happened, so now we know. But anyway, so now we have to go back and
approve and the minutes for the June meeting because we didn't have them
with us at that time. Does anybody have any corrections that they
. noticed?
81111son moved, Heinlein seconded to approve the Minutes of the Senior
Commission datedJ'une 19, 1992 as presented. All voted in favor and the
motion. carried.
Okay, now how about ,the ones for July 1lth.
Heinlein: There's a couple things that I kin~ of got, well one of tHem I
had to laugh at. But on page 6, it's just a minor coryection. Betty, I
imagine she said .Cliff but they put down Chris.
Now which line is that?
Heinlein: On the very second line.
__ St. John: 'You' probably meant Cliff Peder~on.
Yeah, that's who I thought it was.
Commission Meeting
21~ 1992 ~ Page 2
Doesn't Chris come to the card games too.
Heinlein: And then page 8.~I ihould have sald~ 121/2 ~our~. I know
I did, 12 i/2 years. I know 2 1/2 but they've got it down ~s 12 1/2 i
years working together orl this project.
which page Selda?
On the bottom of page 8.
We kn~w what you meant.
.other coirections? Okay, then if you
from the tape on page 6 and on page 8 and
that we approve the Minutes then with those
I so move.
Bl11ison: I second the motion.
Howard moved, 8i11ison seconded to approve the Minutes of the Senior
Commission meeting dated.July17, 1992 as amended by'Selda Heinlein on
pages 6 andS: All voted in favor and the motion carried.
- COMMUNITY
Montgomery: We'd like to welcome Jean Straus who is here to t.lk about
the Community Education District 112 and the resource sort of thing
that's going on there.
e
Jean Straus: Good morning. I'm Jeannie and Lois Fiskness is a
co-worker. We both wo~k on volunteer opportunities over there~.. We work
i nthe EEC buildl ngand to tell you the truth, we don't know with all ,the
growing if oUr office is going to be there 2 weeks from now or not. We
might be. located in'one office instead of two by 2 weeks from now.
I don't know. 'They'll let us know). 8utwe get along well so I think
we~ll do okay if we are put in one place so. Recently!weworked with
Shero! Howard from your commission. We came over here and met in your
facility. We discussed a questionnaire that was sent out to us by the
, Aging Council. The Metropolitan Aging Council.. We eat. down wIth Shero!,
,Gay Mattson, and Audrey Sauls and we 'went over that questionnaire and
'sent that in and Sherol has been kind enough to make copies and gotten
thos. copies to you. It was intetesting in talking about the housing
situations in Chanhassen andi n Chaska. One of the i nteresti ngthi ngs
I learned. about from visiting with Sherol and Audrey was in regards to
the transportation across county lines . Especially . for seniors~ .J And eo
I think some of those issue~ will be talked about in several places. The
issue or the ,thing we want to talk about today, it's called Team. Xt's a
program. The acronym stands for, Today's Elders As Mentors. The
'kindergarten teachers came to Lois and I last spring and said boy, we
really need help. We have a lot of kids in our classrooms and in the
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Senior Commission Meeting
Au~ust 21, 1992 - Pag~ 3
building where the kindergarten classes are held, they're fortunate in
that they do have two adults presently in most of those classrooMs. So
they haveth'ir regular classroom teacher and in, a lot of cases~hey have
perhaps a student teacher or an interri from a college helping out. But
at the same time they have all these specific,needs of kindergartners and
if you know kindergartners, well every stLident really, each and everyone
of them] has a separate need and it's pretty diffi~ult to meet them all
with just one or two adults ina room. They were telling me about a
little boy last year who came into a classr-oom ahd he must have gotten
the interest from either dad or from grandpa but he really liked to put
things together. Take them apart . , Put them' together'. Andrea,ll y< needed
some help in that area. But there aren't a lot of'male kindergarten
teachers to begim with and a lot of those gals~iftheY'Teanything like
me, I can',t put anything together and take it apart and put it together
again. So they were looking for a grandpa last year to~ome in and help
out. We talked with a group yesterday at the community center. I
believe First National Bank Senior GrouP came over and believeit~rnot,
we had 3 or 4 grandpas who were there that day. Came over and talked to
us so w.'re hoping one of thosegraridpas is goin9to com' over to our
kindergarten classes this fall and do that. Do exactly that. Anyway,
~e're here today to tell you about it. Let you know that we're trying to
implement it this fall. It's been in the paper. There was an article in
the Villager and in the He~ald and since they've appeared In the paper,
people are calling us. One gal called up and said, I am just perfect for
the job and she started describing herself and you know, she is. She's
just perfect for the job. And we had had a gal from 8100mington,who's a
retiree'from Minnegasco call up. We talked with her a couple of times.
'We've convinced her that the miles are kind of a lotfor'herto come over
this way so instead she's going to be volunteering in a third grade
classroom in Bloomington. 8utwe're going to keep touch withheruto see
what she 's doing over there. We've had a couple of people call .in since
those articles appeared a week ago or two weeks ago. So we're hereto
tell you about it a 1 i ttlebi t arid. see wha't ki ndof que'stionsyou have
for us. The seniors who decide to come into our program this .fall.will
volunteer. Haybethey'll come in and help us out one day. Haybefor one
hour. Maybe they'll come in and they'll help us out for 'an hour a week.
We're hoping that's what happens. Okay. There are lots of needs.!
think you have a white sheet, and that's the one I'll address~ The
others perhaps you~an look at l~ter. But this is the actual form that a
person would ~omein and fill out for us and on it are listed~omeof the
things we're asking people to do with us. ' One of the .most important ones
is the fl~st on the list, reminiscen~ewithchildren. You know these
kindergartners don't know what it was like with a butter'churner. What
it was like in the days ~fusing horses in the 'farmland. So for these
kids to hear thisstuff~ I know when our son first heard about this, we
grew up in the middle of St. Cloud. He didn't know where hamburger came
from.' He had no idea. You know you bought it at the local grocery st.ore
and milk came from the grocery store. So for him, when we went. ~ut to
the farm, it was an unbelieveable experience, and it was forme too to be
honest. It was for me too. So you can imagine what it's like for these
kindergartners. So that's one of the thl ngs we, 're really asking . People
to come in and just to share their backgrounds. Whatever It, is. Okay.
All' kinds of. thi Dgs ~ ,Whether it's readi ng to kids. If we, have people
who can't ,come to the school, but are willing to do something at home,
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Commission Meeting
21, 1992 - Page 4
perhaps they can be a pen pal. You know, just simpley write once a month
or something. People who are snowbirds can help out in the .monthsthat
they are here or ,when they're away, be a pen pal to these kids. In that
building, it's a building that's really spread. out $0 there*re
ki~dergarten classrooms in this wing, and classrooms down there and often
times when people come into our building they don't know where.to go. So
what we' would like to do is to have somebody that will come ona regular
basis and serv~ as the host or hostess for the building. If they come
into the building, they'll say may I help you. What are you looking for
and then direct them to where they need to go. You know, make it-a
friendlier type building~ And then just be a help to the public. So
that,'s one of the needs we're looking to fill. We'd like to have
somebody bake treats. One of tHe gentleman yesterday saidI'magourmet
cook. He said I ean do that and I thought, when I wrote this up
I thOught oh,we'll get some nice ladies to do this and here a gentleman
came forward. So her-eXam stereotyping already. We have a grandparent
day and of course with grandparents not living i1;"l close , proximity, we
have problems .with that. So we're hoping pedple can stand In~s
grandparents. On down the list there, on page 2, we're asking people to
sharethei r ,talents. We had one gentleman come up yesterday. . He plays
accordianand we'ie hoping that he~s going to come in and share that with
the kids. Days of the week. They can volunteer any day or all days of
the week. Time of day and months of the year. ,That.s kind of to Help us
out with the snowbirds who are going to be willing to help out., It's an
open program. People can do basically a lot of different things in a
flexible schedule. In the o~her districts who have started these
programs, they've just, it started with 2 or 3 peopl~ arid they've just
flourished. Once the word got out, the people who are doing it, love it.
And we) know that's what 's going to happen here once we get the word out.
So if you'll help tis get the word out, okay. We~now it's greatso~
Howard: Do you have extra copies of these to
, .
Jean Straus:- We sure do. We'll leave them here with youokay~
questions?
Bragg: Is this a program only for kindergarten?
J~a~ Straus: We're going to ~tart it in kindergarten. We know there~8 a
need all the way through but webelie0e in doing som~thingright the
first time. If that succeeds, we're going to first'and second grade.
Then we're going to third and fourth and build it. Yeah.
, st. John: I have done something- like thati n Mi nnetanka
'Senior High bui ldi ng.
St. John: That was just a one time and I'm on the
thing again but not on a regular basis.
Jean Straus: I bet you had fun. Did you enjoy that?
St.John: Enjoyed it very muc~.
Jean Straus: Okay. HoW often do you volunteer?
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Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Page 5 .
Jean Straus: Okay, so you're that resource person for that specific
thing. Wonderful. That 'swhat we.'re looking for. OkaY.' We know
,eveiybody here has talents perhaps ~nd I know that your schedules are
tight. If you find time that you can share, great but share it witbyoUT
friends and there are people out there that you kno~. ..Thatyott know
,would be wonderful in this piogram. Let them know. Giveustheit nam~.
We're not going to put high pressure on anybody. If we .receive any
names, we~re not going to say well, you have to do this you know, but
we're willing to t~lk to them. I really strongly, firmly believe that
anybody who gets involved in this, as Emma will say, will love it. It's
great. Any other questions?' .
Montgomery: This looks to me as if it's been set up so well.
it's very appealing. I like the way even ,the sheet is set u~.
Jean Straus: Well, we took our time. We decided that we'd better do
things and put it down on paper and proceed at the .proper pace instead of
just jumping in. ..We intend to provide training ,for anybody who comes in.
We don't intend to have a grandpa come in and find out, ohthisis what a
classroom 100'ks like. Well that's what they do here because it Is
different from 30 yea~s ago. We all know that and yet it's a different ,,'
reality to be there. And so for a lot of the people what they've done in
the past is they'll bring them in and not have them even volunteer their
first time tbey're in the school.' You Just bring them into the building.
Yott have coffee. You ,take . them inland out of the classrooms and get them
comfortable. Okay', then on the next time, pEn-haps they come in and share
their ,accordian experience or their talent with kids, okay. But we want
to make them comfortable. And our volunteers will have aplace'where
they can come in, sign i~, check in. kave their cup ~f coffee. Their
own little place for'volunteers and you know it's kind offunny~ W~
asked the teachers, how many of you teachers are willing to work with
volunteers, because it takes time. Because we have to train them too.
And you k~ow every single one of the kindergarten teac~eTs said,'yes. We
want to do it. ' .
Howard: Is this the Jonathan building?
.~
Jean Straus: Yes it is.
Where we meet for Community Ed?
Jean Straus: Right. ,Right. The lower level there. That back wing is
all kindergarten and this wing is kindergarten and nursing screenings are
around this corner. And so we really need people to help escort during
that time because these kids don't know where that is. They've never
been there p~r'hap$yoti know, in the nurses office. But it's an exciting
program so w~ hope you'll. pass the word. Any more questions? I'll tell
you what , r 'm going to do. I brought some pictures 'of diff,erent volunteer
opportunities that we've taken'pictures of and if you don't mind, I'll
just leave them for you heTeand maybe perhaps at the end of the meeting,
Shar~in if you'll put them in your office, we'll pick it up next Monday.
Would that be okay? But they're kind of fun to look at. I'll Just leave
those.
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Meeting
Page 6
AI-Jaff: Maybe what we can do is put them at the SenioTCenter for
people to look at. Maybe they would be interested then and try to
contact you.
st. John: For like a week o~ something.
Jean Straus: That'dbe.great.' Because you know, r think
thousand words you know. They tell you a.lo't. That'd be
Montgomery: . I think people do lo'ok through things there
to me that's a good place.
Jean Straus: Alright. Well, we sure appreciate that.
Montgomery: Well thank you very much for coming
this. .
Jean Straus~' Well, thank you somu?h~ Okay, bye~bye.
Jay Johnson: Sarbara? I haVe a suggestion for your program. Check with
Southwest~etroiransit in providing transportation for your volunteers
to the Jonathan Center; As long as it's an off peak hdurs. they really
might ~oit ~ery economically.
Jean Straus: Becausew~'vealready had thatproblem...said I can't
there and 1 said !'lY pick you up.
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Jay Johnson: Well, if you live in Chan, Chaska or Eden Prairie,
Southwest Metro w'ill pick you up and take you there. You want to go for
the off peak hours, after 10:00 and before whatever.
, I
Jay Johnson: Yeah, on the regular Dial-a-Ride. With
distribution facility .that they have in Eden Prairie, where they give
food to people,if people can't get in and get their food, the
Dial~a-Ride driver will actually pick it up for them and take it and they
charge them a one way ~are because they're only going one way. Fyom the
foodplace~
Jean Straus: Veah. This will .be 9:00 to 11:00 and 1:00
Montgomery: You mean on their regular Dial-a-Ride?
Montgomery: Well that's interesting. ! didn't know they did
Jay Johnson: Yeah, they 'try to do a lot of community service things.
Montgomery: Well, that's very nice to know. Well Jean; doyoG waritto
follow up on that or do you want us to check it out?
,
Jean Straus: I'll let you know.'
Lois Fiskness: This man Just spoke on my presentation. I was going to
tell you to calLSouthwest Metro because. Jean,! '11 have Jean pass
another sheet fori' you. Perhaps you're thinking, why should I volunteer
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Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Page 7
. .i n the elementary. school? :r've done that ki nd of thing with my chi Idren
many years ago and I'm ready tbgo on to do some other kinds of things.
There is a group withln.our two county area called Sc6tt~Carver
Association for Volunteer Involvement. And it's ~group of pebpl~ lIke
Jean and mYs~lfwhowork with various agencies who use volunteers and we
came up with a list of some reasons why people do volunteer and it/starts
with everything like, making friends. Having fun. Maybe it wilL even
lower your bloocf pressure. It'.- free entertainment. It'sanopport,unity
to meet. and do different kind;:s of things and it has been proven .in
research that people who do volunteer kinds of things generally have a
better self image. Feel better about themselves. Have more~nergy and
have just overall better general health. So those are some reasons that
you might like to consider. I hope that most of you will be looking at
the .opportunity tQ work with children. Perhaps your grandchildren are not
in the area or maybe your grandchildren are older ah'eady and youki nd of
have the yearning to work with a small child or hold someone/on your lap.
This would be a fun opportunity for you. One of you did ask a question
about seniors doing thi ngs in our elementary schools . At the. Chaska
building we have a program that runs in the fall for 6 weeksandln the
spring for 6 weeks and it's called, Reading is Ageless and we have about
10 senior citizens that come in on a once a week basis there for 6 01'7
weeks and read with first and second grade children. SQwe 're ,hoping
that in future years we can develop that kind of thing. Right here in
Chanhassenwith an elementary building that's easily within walking
distance of so many homes, and of your senior center; that it would be a
natural place to put together that kind ofa program too. Again, Jean
and I encourage you to volunteer in our schools and if you'reno~ able to
c1othevolunteer involvement yourself, maybe you knoW of someone else.
You can get a little twist 1nthat arm or maybe there's ~omeonewho could
use that little boost or has a little bit of.time that they would like to
spare that you could recomm~nd to us too and we'll make the phone calls.
No strings attached. So please do consider TEAM and give us a call if
you have any additional questions a.bout this palticulal TEAM effolt that
.we're trying to put together in our kindergarten buildings.
Montgomer~: Well thank you very much. I think it leally
appealing.
Lois Fiskness: Yeah, I think it will be fun. 1 wanted to thank Shelol
for all your input that afternoon. You were a re'al big help. A great.
asset. We appreciate your time and we thank you for letting us come and
use your facility. Thanks.
Montgomery: ,AI right, thank you very much.
FOCUS GROUP FOR SAIL -
Bragg: Well, whoever sent out the copies, I had. brought origInals for
you on SAI~. I don~t know if it's necessary. to duplicate that but these
are the originals that we have. Last meeting, I had a comment from Judy
that she had received a letter from a Sue Tewalt asking for some
immediate help and she was just swamped and since Sherol and :r had
voluriteered to be on the ~AIL committee, and Sherol was out of town,
Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Page 8
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took it and the letter was dated July 1st and we were already iNto about
JLllY19th~ So it was necessary to make immediate contact.. And so I
called Sue Tewalt and she asked for a f06us groupt6 be called so that
some discussion could be carried on with the SAIL people. I,immediately
called what 1 thought would bea representative group. 'You had to be
over age 70 so you had to confess to your age. And I looked for. a couple
of., couples. I looked for widows and widowers and people that, I knew that
may have proble'ms, physical problems . And I looked for. representation
from the extreme, west to the extreme east part of Chanhassen and the
focus group th~t agreed to come were BeaWalbeck of Santa Vera Drive.
Floyd Tapper, also on Santa Vera Drive. Hazel Johnson, Cypress Drive in
Minnewashta. Ev and Helen Clawson of Pontiac Circle. selda Heinlein of
our own group who livesi n Chan View.. Earl and Emma St. John who live on
West 63rd. Stree~ in Excelsior. That however, isChanhassen. Myself. I
just, turned 70. Esther Steller who. lives across the street from me.
She's 83 and Itvesalonein het own house, and is out every day pulling
weeds and very actiVe. I thought she'd be a good one. Blanche Schutrop
because I didn't have anybody from St. Hubert's congregation and I
thought what a wonde~ful person to be on this~6mmission because she does
weekly visits to people in tne church and unfortunately, .she couldn't
come because on Monday, that's her vi~iting day to 96 out into her
.congregation. And Val and Einer Swedberg who, she is still running
own business and he helps her with it. And the people who were.
Heinl~in: Where do they live, by the way?
Jhey live in, let's See. Cheyenne Avenue. 8011 Cheyenne Avenue.
know exactly where that ~s.
Montgomery: Near McDonald's, up in that area.
Btagg: Okay, Those who didn't come were Blanche Schutrop and Hazel
Johnson. I don't know where Hazel was. And Floyd ~a~per became ill, is
,that right? And he's your neighbor isn't he?
Jay Johnson: Yeah.
Bragg: . ..Well, I'm glad he's better. And the facilitators of the focus
group were Sue Tewalt of Norwood and the other person was Darlene Lynn '
who ,is from Cokato. So you begi nto see this focus group,. You look at
th~ back page of this handout, you'll see the counties th.t are involved
I and we're one of the last 'ones to have bur focus group. . So what happenecf
is that they had astru6tured format and they started out by giving us
th~ee incldentsand then went around the group and asked what~ewould do
given that incident. ,The fir-st'one being of a gentleman who was a
neighbor of yours who suddenly was getting very thin and didn't look as
though he was bathing. Didn't smell as though he were bathing and didn't
109kas though he were bathing and they went around the group .ndof
course the first thought was, well he's a friend of mine. I'd go over
~nd talk to him~ And then other people had other thoughts. Andlt
turned out that a handbook like ours, which I'm very proud of"would have
been a very ~ood idea' because you could kind of look in here and~ind an
area for a person to call if it looked like it was more than you cbuld
handle. And it sort of turned out that way as we explored the incident.
8rag9: Holy Cross. It's the Sojourn Program and some of the people did
noiknow about that so when we finished, it looked likewh~t we really
needed to know was where are our resources? Okay, I think that I've
given this adequate attention. That was the focus. group. But then on
Thursday we went and we met in Chaskaand we formed a , well I guessthe
committee has already been formed and Shero! and I are on that ,and so it
was my first chance to attend. And it looked as though that's going to
be a very Interesting group. It's just barely getting started. .
~ Howard: Be~ty already got elected Chairman yesterday.
Bragg: You did that to me. So they were looking .forjust 3peoP!e.
Recorder, a Chairman and then Associate Chairman. It looked like a very
interesting gtoup. There aie a lot of advisors to the group. As far as
the actual seniors on the group , . it looked Ii kethere were about 8 and
then there are like an equal number. of advisors.
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Se~ior Commission Meeting
AUgust 21i 1992 - Page 9
That it would require some other resources and our book says whereto
tur:n~.. Qf course, our own center is where most people would turn first.
If they would just get used to the idea that we have the center here.
Okiy, that was the start. -And at the end, they passed around a sheet of
paper with possible places totur n and I think the one that was least
known was a support group for people who, it maybe that the ~pouse was
losin~ their ability to handle the other person. Say a ~anand wife are
living in on~ household and the wIfe was taking care of. the man and he
was becoming more and more difficult to handle and she might need a
support group to help her and that there might be a need for .a day
activity center where that person could bring the handicapped person and
then be able to get away a little bit. To refresh themselves. And it
was interesting to note that we have, a day center over in~ what~sthat'
Lutheran Church?
Ho~ard: Holy Cross.
Montgomery: What's the official group?
Bragg: Officii I name of the group!s.
Howard: Senior Advisory Council for Carver County.
Commissioners~
Montgomery: That's good because you've been there
have to get myself oriented.
Ho~ard: I don't think we have any initials set up.
Bragg: That's no fashion not to have an acronym for
Repeat that again. Senior Advising.
Howard:
I think.
the.. .
Senior Advisory Council for Carver County Board of Commissioners
One member, very sharp gal named Tracy Swanson is a member of
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Senioy Commi~sion Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Page 10
_ (Theye was a tape change at this point in the
Syagg: ...foymey Mayoy of Chaska foy seveyal years and now she~son the
SoaYd of Commissioners and she certainly does kn6w the politic~l in's and
out's.
Sragg: Yes. TyacySwanson. What did I call hey? Sue?
HoWafd: You mean Tyacy?
Howayd':Yeah , Sue. Tracy Swanson., And then it has two aspects.
Council, the head of the Commu~!ty Services isa man named Gary Sork and
then they have two women, Vicky Peterson has spoken to us. She heads the
social group and Irene Helgesen I think heads the, Heflickson, does the
health aspect of it. Although the head one is GeorgiannLowdyy ~f the
Health Services. Sut she hlasonly at one meeti 1"Ig. I think this other
one is oUY regularone~
Syagg: So that's what's been happen! ng and I think every
yepoyt about our particulay ayea, 'they're impyessed with the pyogress
we've made and that's because we are a'commissionthat's been set up and
is meeting regularly and weare exploring issues. And so when we repoyt,
they can't get over how fay along we aye, and let me say that, at this
point, as we get to the Senioy Answer Line, they T~poyted agaIn and
sarbara was there and...:
e Howard:.I think they treat us like we'1"'e not payt of the
,There's Chanhassen .nd then there is ~arver County.
8yagg: Well, let me go back to that again. Tracy Swanson helped by
saying that this is not just them and us. That by ha~ing the number
that's really accessible to the whole County, the ,people won't knoW that
it's probably located in Chanhassen. That it's their number tb,cal1 for
Senior Answer Line and,! think that Tracy could help us with the
political aspect of this. And she already has.
Montgomery: She sounded ieally for it and...hurry up~
8ragg: Yes. Hurry and do this. And 80 I feel a real
from her.
~10ntgomeYY :
Well thank you.
That sounds good.
I , "
That's a good link.
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8ragg: I'm not organized on my part but things are happening so fast
that I couldn't get it organized.
Montgomery: Just a great link !think with the rest of the County which
is what we haven~t had. I think that'~ really progress.
8ragg:Asa commission, we mi~ht w~nt to do a little more~
littl. paper or something on the Senior Answer Line-and how
effect us.
Seniar Cammissian Meeting
August 2,1, 1992 - Page 11
I think that's caming up. Okay, anything else anybady wants
AT-3aff: We had the interviews last Tuesday . I believe the majari ty, of
yau were thereat the meeting. The oammissian selected McCamb'ta da the
study.' Westi!l need ta getappr.aval framthe City Cauncil. Thisw!ll
hapefully take place this ~anday, the 24th. And then we can proceed
afferthatwith the study. We will be sitting with McHaugh tafind out
exactly wha~ pracedurethey are.going ta take.
Mantgamery: I understaad tha~,Paul was gaing taask him more about Phase
2 ~ndthe cast far that. Is, hestirl daing that?
AI-Jaff: Carrect. I gat a phane call fram Gayle, the lady yau
inte~viewedand she wantedtaknawwhat the results were. Sa I saId,
wellwai t until Manday and yau wi 11 find out farmall y. . She insisted that
I tell her sa I said .okay. Off the recard, the Cammissian selectedyau.
But we still need Cauncil's appraval. And then I asked her abautthe
Phase, 2 and haw much the architect wauld charge. And she said tHey
'cauldn'tputa dallar figure an it until they knew exactly what was
happening with Phase 1.
e
Haward: What part will the cammissian have toda nawwith the rest .of
this?
AI-Jaff: I~m sarry.
Haward: What part will we, the cammissian, have ta da with
it?
AI-Jaff: Okay, my guess is yau will probably na~inate 1 .or 2, maybe 3
peapleta sit an a task farce that will wark an the seniar hausing study.
That's,my gues~. Unless yau want the Cammissian ta da all the wark.
Haward: ! thaught it was very, I enjayed it. I thaught it was ~un.
Mantgamery: I think it's fascinating.
Bragg: I'd li~e, ta ga on recard as really being happy te hear them say
that they're net pinned dawn teene style .of buiJdi ng. That the .ones
th~t were in the 70's, the .one's that were in the 80's are nat geing to
dictate what is available new., Se if yau da get interviewed,that yau
can really state what yeu think yau'dwant and that the architects wauld
really payserieus attentien tethestyle because! think I made, myself
clear,several times that I ,dan't want a big wareheuse. Se we still have
samecontrel aver haw this kind .of hausing wauld be.
Mentgamery: It may be premature te d,ecide which reute we ,want tetake
but maybe it wauld be helpfulta have kind .of a previeusreadingof how
you feel about that. Wauld yau all like tebe included in the study?
Wauld yauall like te ga see places and have samething to sayabaut it?
How de yeu feel 'about it? I think we ~ave a feeling here that. .
It
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Senior Commissio~ Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Page.12
Howard: We may all live there you know.
AI-Jaff:
that the Senior Commission would like to
\Howa'rd: Then you'd be assu.red of having at least four
Because everybody won't always be able to
AI-Jaff: Sure. Sure. The process that will be taken with ,the senior
houstng study will probably be different than the way w~ did the open
ended seniors needs study. The meeti n9s will not be with someone, I
believe. They will be doing some independent work at the beginning and
at least that'. how 1 understood it. And maybe after 3-4 months, then
the Commission would start getting involved. And as we near the end of
the study, then there will be more frequent meetings. Maybe 20t 3a
month. I spoke to Paul about the fee for the architect ~nd he said, and
I explained to him that they can't. put a figure on it and he said, as
long as we get not to exceed the figure, that will be fine.
Montgomery: Do you think they would go along with that?
AI-Jaff: I'm sure, yeah.
Montgomery: They should have some idea too of how much it would cost to
do a marketing and cashflow figure. That wouldn't depend so much, I
wouldn't think'on the style.
AI-Jaff: Absolutely. Arvid had teamed up with another firm.
Montgomery: It was Maxfield.
Al-.1aff: Maxfield ,thank you. And there was a dollar figure .onthat
proposal with Maxfield so I'm sure', if he could give a comparable fIgure
with McComb, that will work out fine. Or at least like Paul said,' a not
to exceed figure. That will be fine as well. ., '
Montgomery: Well ,it will be inter,esting to see how that all works out.
AI-Jaff: The Council is very supportive of anything
seniors.
.?
Al.Jaff: 'Yes, it's comi~g along definitely.
Montgomery: Okay. Will you need~nybody at the Council
necessary? You can let us know.
AI~Jaff: I'll let you know.
Montgomery: Alright. Anybody have any more questions about it
comments?
I was surprised no one was at that meeting. They were invited
Commission Meeting
21, 1992 - Page 13
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AI-Jaff: 'Yes. The HRA as well as the City Council were invited. It's
really difficult for them to~get away in the morning. They all have
, jobs. .
What is the date of that Council meeting? That you would have
approval.
Alright. Okay, anything else.
Montgomery: The 24th, did you say?
Howard: N~xt Monday.
AI-Jaff: On the 24th.
Montgomery: Whatever Monday is.
Howard: It is.the 24th.
UPDATE ON SENIOR ANSWER LINE (SAL).
Howard: She wanted it approved yesterday.
Montgomery: Yes' she did. I'm sure. I think she's
might withdraw their. .
At-Jaff: Well that's,what she said.
Bra~g: I think the fact that we would support it financially
At-Jaff: AD'~olutelYbecauseshe said, she said are you willing to have a
c.omputer down there and X' said, ~oJell we already do.
I
f Howard: That's when she became ~ery supportive.
Montgomery: She ~"'as afraid it would get away Xthi nk.
--
AI-Jaff: We have the space. We have the computer. Wehav~ a phone line
down there already. It's justa matter of dedicating that line to Senior
Answer Line.
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Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 ~ Page 14
Howard: How much does a 800 phone? I
AI-Jaff: I don't know. I honestly don't know.
Howard: Because Waconia is toll and I'm sure Norwood. Anything beyond
Waconia would be toll.
AI-Jaff: You know Watertown, they're City Hall number a direct line.
I 'mean you don't need to dial 1. That's the only place I know of that is
direct. So maybe we can contact Wat~rtownand ask them.
Bragg:. It was interesting that the last report, the lady from the
Watertown area was the least supportive of it and yet yesterday, and she
was sitting right next to me, she turned around and was. In'fact, when
sher~ceivedone of our booklets, she said ohevery senior centershbuld
have a booklet like that.
She probably wants them for her commission.
Yeah, she wanted 10 copies. But we found
Bragg: Yes, they did.
Howard: Did you notice the one never got by Tracy Swanson.
AI-Jaff: She requested additional copies so I told her I
them.
Montgomery: That's why you need this computer. This is ridiculous that
you have to go back~. .it's always different.
Howard:
printed.
They update, every 2, months t\hey update so you see,
I mean they keep theirs up to snutf.
Mont~omery: I just can't imagine ~h~ they're not j~st
down and saying, wonderful~ Great. Let's do it. But
I guess.
AI-Jaff: Wateriown said that they are very receptive of it.
they ca.n't staff it.
Howard: They can't afford it.
AI-3aff: They can't afford it, correct.
Montgomery: Yeah~ but they don't have to do it. I ~ean
isn't going to be all that expensive. r mean they don't
computer.
locate it~ you have to have
the information.
Montgomery: Oh I see. Well, that's true.
needa phone.
Senior Commission Meeting-
August 21, 1992 - Page 15
But the computer isa one time investment. The phone is that
month.
Howard: But isn't that all they would need? Why would they
yomputer?
AI-Jaff:. Because when somebody calls you, you need
information. The only way you can pull it out.
Howard: I thought the calls t..rere all goi ng to gO to
Billison: That's ~hat I thought.
Montgomery: And then if we pull them up
very labor lows.
.
AI-Jaff: Correct. That's what we said. However, we would have to staff
it from 9:00 in the morning until 4:00. The volunteer would have to come
from Watertown to,Chanhassen to be able to staff. l~e need somebody
sittIng there at the phone from 9:00 in the morning until 4=00 in the
afternoon. I don't believe we have.. volunteers that would stay that long,
unless we would start recruiting and that would take care of the problem.
Then Chanhassen wouldse~vlce all of Carver County.
Howard: Wouldn't it be through the Senior Center and co~ldn't
greeter/receptionist do that?
. .
. . .
Howard: 1 would think that that would be logical because it also would
keep the,m from having nothing to do when no one drops in.
Montgomery: And the training would be fascin~tingI think. I
they'd like that.'
AI-Jaff: If she was trained to do it.
Bragg: Or how about having shorter hours that it's on lirie. For
example, from 10:00 until 3:00 of something and have the ~ubscribing
~reas know that those are the only hours that it's available.
AI-Jaff: It won't work because Senior Answer Line will only offer
services if you meet .oertal n guidelines and one of those are open,
. have the line available from 9:00 in the morning until 4:00'in the
afternoon.
Howard: But our center has two shifts, 10=00 to 1:00 and 1:00 to
So if the greeter/reception~st does it, we'd only be lacking that
hour.
AI-Jaff:. And then you would need a staff person there
emergencies.
e
Jay Johnson: Jay Johnson. I've got a question. Have they considered .
utilizing more than one. center? With the technology we have today, ydu
can divert a phone call anyplace'. Okay. So you could, on MondaYS have
AI-Jaff:
county.
That's what we are trying to do and we're going
We're trying to have them buy into it.
Senior Comm,ission Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Page 16 '
-,<
it at theChaska Center or ~t Watertown or wherever.
at our center and share the responsibility throughout
Jay Johnson:. ~ecaus. if we're going to PTovide the service for the whole
county.
Al~Jaff: Let's say the first meetiDg we fac~d some resistence. Second
meeting they were more receptlveof the idea. And actually the majority
were for it. I think by the nex( meeting.
Jay Johnson: yeah. Andtf:\ere'sa means to get computers for things like
this.
Montgomery: But they were very relunctimt. At the first meet! ng thE?re
were they outlying areas that.were not interested. They didn't want
anything to do~t.Ji ththis computer business and really very, they knew
what they needed in thei,r community and they were very distant at first.
I ~hink there was a great improvement.
Montgomery: But they seemed to...needed some ideas. They
get it.
Howard: Make it a possibility. Possibility A, 8 or C.
\
They didn't quite get it you know.
Bragg: Yeah, and that's why, I think Julie Bentz made it so clear that
itJs community and community and their understanding so; I think we do
have the obligation to bring a little more decision making'to those
people. So I think it was a good idea that we P~t it on hold for another
month~ ..
e
AI-Jaff: I'm meeting with Carver County staff next week. It's going to
be just an open discussion. Just hash things out and the feellhg'I'm
getting right now is they are definitely going to~o for it. Because
"
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Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 ~ Page 17
they're saying okay, let's do this. Let's meet. Let's figure out how we
want Senior Answer Line to operate.
AI-Jaff~ Correct.
Montgomery: Who are you mee~ing with? Next week.
AI-Jaff= I have her card right here. Arlene Hellickson.
Bragg: Okay. She was conducting the meeting yesterday.
Jay Johnson: Sharmin, is Senior Answer Line
currently?
AI-Jaff:Hennepin CoOnt~ currently.
Jay Johnson: Is there any way we could get a demonstration of the'
software and show people how simple the computer, that you don't have to
be a computer jock to be able t6 run this thing. I mean computers have
gotten to the point of being semi-user frIendly. In fact we. have a lot
of seniors out here, like my father doesn't live in this town but he
spent his senior years teachin~ himself computer programmingJ . That's one
thing h~ does and he did it with one brand. Now he's into IBM. So he
and I talk the same language a little bit but you know, it's something
that my dad would ,this ,would be something that my dad would reaLly like
to get involved ~.Ji th down i nAlabama where he 1 i. ves because he likes t,o
play with the computer.
AI-Jaff: Well move him back here Jay.
We'll have a house for him. Senior housing in
Jay Johnson: . l.Jell he'd only come here in the summer. He retired in
Nebraska. The snow shoveling and fell down. The next spring he moved
back to Alabama.
Montgomery: That's a good ideaJay~
Jay Johnson= Yeah. I've been sitting out there, I'm working on
something I have to get 'done and kind of listening and wanted to throw my
two cents in here because computers is what I do~ . I'm really interested
in this and want to talk to you later about the computer side of it. I
might be able to help you there. I ki nd of consul tunofficially to the
Ci ty on computers. i
Montgomery: I think that's a good idea.
Brag~: I'd lump it as a high tech and some of the 'more rural areas, it's.
too high tech for them r,ight now and. they do need tothi nkabout
Jay Johnson: But .see, they're.getting computers on thefarmsII
place. I mean there.s hardly a farm out there now that don't do
books on computer and stuff like that. Farming is becoming high
Seriior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Page 18
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That's why, well a lot of them look'at their kids who are doing the farm
now and go.
,Well thank you.
AI-Jaff: So that's all I have ori it. It's moving along~
progressing. Not as, fast as you would like it to but.
Montgomery: But progress. But I think there is
overcome yoU know. I think it~s going.
Al..;Jaff: It's just that it's fiction to them and sti'll,Senior
Line is an outsider and they're letting it into Carver County.
Montgomery: Always suspect.
AI-:Jaff:
f,riends.
Correct. But I think they're coming
It's okay. We'll let them help us.
Montgomery:' We '11 look forward to the next meeti n9
recommendation.,
AI-Jaff: I'm sur~ th~re ~ill be one.
Montgomery: Maybe a little behind the scenes something
help.
There tt.Jill bea little bit behind the scene.
Montgomery: Okay. Anybody have any other comments?
Bragg: I would like to just reqOest that maybe you co~ld have some kind
6fa paper ready for us for our next meeting of our, Carver Co~nty.
Howard: Senior Advisory Council.
AI-Jaff: I have it as Carver Senior in my calendar. But Senior Advisory
Council.
BOARD
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'Colby1 Well we have somecgood news with ,that. Initially we set up what
the Advisory Board should consist of ina fairly casual meeting with
Ursula Dimler. And we set out guidelines that'neverwas presented to the
City Council. We thought we'd fill these positions 'and then present them
totheCi~y Council for their apprrival. The positions weren't filled, ,
and I think because of some of the guidelines we put down there, and so
as the work increased at the center, those guidelines, we just kind of
let them fall by the wayside and ,we have two new members to the Advisory
Board. Lola Kagel and Jay Johnson. And if we really look at those
guidelines, I suppose those two people couldn't be on the Advisory Board
'but this temporary Advisory Board now Is really the working advisory
board and we're going to welcome with open arms Jay and,Lola and
Senior commission Meeting
August 21,' 1992 - Page 19
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hopefully at our next meeting, we met this week and hopefully at the next
meeting we're going to. set Up, talk about By-laws. Set up, I don't'knovJ
if it ~.lJouldbeapresident or chairman, secretary so there's Minutes
being done. Who's responsible for the dollars. Have atr~asurer. Maybe
somebody involved for the programming so each person now~..,ill be
identified. Not as a groupto.how are we going to get this done but each
one will have a specific duty. So that 's looking, and then aften" that .
all shakes down, then we'll present it to the Council and say here's l~.lJhat
we'd like you t6 approve. And I .did hear a c~mment, without naming
names, that a person was apprehensive and would not apply be6ause she
didn't like the'fact that it had to go through the City Council. I'mnot
quite sure why tha~ Mas of(ensive but it was. She didn't see why an
application had to be presented to. the City Council. And I don't know if
thatwouldbo~her other people and if that maybe has stopped some other
people from applying. But I'll just share that with you. So that's the
good news.; ,
CENtER OPERATIONS.
Montgomery: Well, that'~ great.
St. John: Any other news then?
Colby: We'll still take more people on the Advisory Board.
St. John:Welly6u said that was the good hews.
.
Montgomery: 'Okay ,then l<Je' II move onto the next
Colby: Okay, the op~rations. We have a n~w schedule
Septemberthatiwe put the BIngo to Wednesdays because we were told that
we Mere conflicting with some South Shore card playing and we all were
kind of going to say, I told yousd~ When we moved it if they didn't
show. Did they show on Wednesda~?
Colby: Ob, okay.
H6wards: Three new ones came.
Howard: I had personally scolded though. I've been being very nasty to
them about it because, so.Marion and.. .came~ But three of our regulars
weren't there so we had the same size. But people.tell me it simply
takes time to grow.
Colby: I think so. And everybody s~ys, don't stop
that is going to be.one of the drawing' cards.
Heinlein: I was disappoint~d, I couldn't make it.
Howard: Well, you sent your verbal excuse.
Colby: So September will be starting the T'ai Chi on the 22nd in the
morning. We'll be starting oil painting in the evening through community
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Senior Commission Meeting
~ugust 21, 1992 - page 20
education. I called Sotlthwest Metro. Th~y will give
in the evening so that's really exciting.
Bragg: Again, what day?
, ,
Colby: That's going to be on Tuesday evenings. Starting
Kubitz: Isn't that on a Monday? .
Colby: No, Tuesday also. See, sewing circle has been. moved to ~uesdays
but we had that on Wednesday and 8ingo Wednesday afternoon and cards
Thursday so ally the open day at that point to schedule activities and
that's how we set it up initially. And we did s~t it up just for those
,t.hree days. Now the preschool is going to be using the,aenter on Mondays"
and Fridays and Park and Recreation will be using it on Mondays and
Fridays. I noticed in the flyer yesterday that I go~, that Park and
Recreation has also offered it on Saturdays. I don't know if any of you
noticed that. 1 didn't know about that. .
B~llison: Yes, I did. For parties, birthday parties.
Colby: For birthday parties. So if we do, they have to
like'3 weeks in advance or something ~o if we dohave.anything that we
wanttQdo on Saturday, they hadn't mentioned that they were going to do
that, I'm sure we still have, we)retopprioriti.o ifwejust~etit
scheduled on a Saturday then let Park and Recreation know that they
couldn' thavea birthday party on that day., So .it is scareywhen you
listen to Jean Str~us talk about the spac~ in the area. Everybody's
going to be calling to use this space and that's nice t.ogetour name
out. But it's also kind ofscarey because we don't want it to.end.up not
!having the impression that this is the senior center. So I did not give
approval to the Early Chi ldhood group to use it in January. ~hey asked
for a commitment in January and I said no. That I couldn't commit at
this point because I really think that after Septembe~-October, we need
to decide if we want it to be open 5 days. At the Advisory Board meeting
it was mentioned that some members felt it was real important to have it
open and I think at that point tOd, when the grocery store is open, it is
~oing to be more of a drop by situation. That maybe the 5 days, if we
can get greeters and that, would be nice to have it open all tho.e days.
I got a little protective too when I saw birthday parties. I mean I know
what my house looks like af,ter our birthday party. They didn't tell me
about this...
(There was a tape change at this point in the
Montgomery: There's maybe a strange concern that I have and that is that
I think I got every germ that was going around the child care center that
my grandson'was going to. And I dori't know if thi~ is a concern or not.
Al-Jaff~ One thing that you might want to consider is if we get ihe
Senior Answer Line, we'will have to have the senior center open 5 days a
week.
Will that happen before January? That would never be in
January.
Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Page 21
AI-Jaff: W~'re hoping that it would be in place.
Colby: Well, we've already committed to them through December 14th. No,
December 18th is the last daytha,tthey,' 11 be uti I izi ng that..
Howard: If we weren't using it, they would.
Montgomery: ,How did that come about?
Colby: Well, we we~e basically told we didn't
center wasn't open on Mondays and Fridays.
Colby: They would, yeah.
Montgomery: . This was Park and Recreation?
Colby: Well, it's the city has said if thci facility has
available~irst to seniors and then to anyone else that
Montgomery:. Who's speaking for the City?
.
Colby: Well I guess Sharminis.
Al-Jaff: Well it's always been the case with any, the ~ouncilchamber.
City Council gets first priority. If they need the Council chambers,
they get it. Everyone else gets second.'
Montgomery: But this may be a conflict for the city itse~f because of
the answer line thing.
Heinlein: If that turns out to bea senior center.
-~l-Jaff: This is supposed to be the Council chambers. The Senior
Commission meets here. \The Planning Commission meets here. The HRA
meets here. Park and Recreation.
Colby: And I dot;.hink that if, j~d I did mention that. If so~ething
would happen 'you know. When they were t~lking about January, I wasn't
talking about these first three months but when they were talking about
January, I said we just don't know what's going to happen and what if .we
had ,to stop midstream and say, hey you,can't use this facility anymore.
I think if that Senior Answer Line comes in, that's how we're going to
I have toappr6ach them.
Howard: That could take place in your office for a couple of ~~eks. The
answer line just needs the phone and the desk. They don't need the whole
center.
.
Colby: Yea~, in fact.I think that might be a better place to have, it set
upali the time. Because I don't think you' can have that computer and
just think when the satin dolls were there the other day and the phone
was real hard to hear. So I think you need that. That
it would have to be. And that could easily- house...
Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992- Page 22
I wanted to ask about the exercise group.
of the exercise group?
Bl111son: After I ~o to get the training.
Bragg: Would you be doing that on Mondays and Fridays and would you be
having it in there?
8i11ison: I have no idea right now but I really feel that should
.looked into. So ~t might be that in programming, as programming
develops,that you'need the center open.
Bragg: So tha~it is open and it is running with .different programs.
B1111son: I would prefer like on a MondaYctoo.
But the commitment's ~lreadybeen made so, you
Colby: ;1 think if something like the Senior Answer Lin. came~n~ I think
if it were 'an exercise class, we.could say well 'we,still have Wednesday
mornings available, we can'doit on Wednesday mornings. But I think if
the Senior Answer Line came in,I think we could over and say, this Isn't
9ping to wo~k. And I even' talked to them about the ~ouncil Chambers ~nd
they can meet at churches. r mean there are churches available but for
some reason I guess they didn't want to be affiliated with a particular
church or something. So I mean it might be that halfway through1itwith
that answer line, I mean that's just a really exciting and important part,
that would be wonderful to havel think in our center. And lthink.at
that point, we'd just go and Say, we need to tell you, you eanmeet here
through Thanksgiving and then in December we're going to have. Senior
Answer Line, we .need you to, because if it grows, we certainly,don'twant
to show any constraints to the seniors because that's the point 6f it.
So I think that would be fine. I mean the'y might come in her.eandfi nd
out that it's not as ideal as they thought. From what I'm hearing, from
those two call., it's ideal tohav. two separate rooms because the kids
are over here and, the parents are over, they're going'to hear those kids..
And the kids are going' tahear the parents . It might not work for them. .
Heinlein: .What are the parents doing in the meantime?
-
St. John: Sort of a ~upportgroup for the parents?
Colby: Yeah.. And learning good parenting techni~ues... So the'ice
cream social went very well. Everyone enjoyed ft. Wedidn 'thave the
turn out that r had ~oped we would have but the Satin Dolls were. just, I
mean just wonderful. And ;they were real , real impressed when they found
out. They were very disappointed at first when they saw, they've never
Colby: I guess the par.nts are talking about ,how awful it is
parents are just sharing with each other.
Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Page 23
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presented to such a small group. I mean they're in competition I guess
to go to State now.
st. John~ They are performing at,the Expo in October.
fromM.tropolitan Senior Federation and they had their
There were 10 g*ls on that picture and there were 6 here.
performing at that and that Is a big.
Colby: Yeah~ they're goin~tothe State Fair, because/they made .it .to
State now. And they said, but when they found out we hadonl)' been open
since July 1st, they were just amazed. They said oh;you'regoign to
have people here. This is nice. . So it's just I gues5when, you're
talking about it for so long that you just kind of expect ,that it falls
into place and it will. It will. So they Merereal.
Heinlein: Did ~nYbodynotic.the pjcture of the three that
the 4th of July? They w6na prize down in Florida. It was
yesterdaY'5 paper'J The Villager.
St. John: I haven't gotten mine yet.
Heinlein: It was the young fella and the two girls.
ColbY: I thought I went through it. I must have missed
e
Heinlein: They were really ~ood~
,Colby: Well Southwest Music too has said that they would love to come
over and do some entertaining for us. And I think we need to work it
~roundfobd. iI almost think if we would have had a lunch, th. ice crea~
social was fine but, and we also talked about the publicity. Thatwe've
just got to somehow be siglng throughout the community a little bit more
because people stop by and they're real sorry they missed the Satin
Dolls. We said at 1:30 b~t the social was listed from 1:30 to 4:00
they came about 3:00. Well everything was kind of done so that was
bad.
"
Howard: I thin~ our time was~ little short between when we decided to
do it and it oceurred~
Colby: And that's kind of what we've been behind thee ball. It seems
that we're always a littl~. bit, and that's going to be probably the first
year. We're going to be playing like that but I was real exeit~d about
Southwest Metro. That they agreed to do the night riding. . And then we'
also talked, Bunny you weren't there but we talked about having a movie
in the evening. Early evening. And Southwest Metro said that they
would, and that would be on a Thursday night rather than a Tuesday night
like the oil painting and Southwest Metro said sure. We'll work with you
so i'm just amazed that they'reb.ing. They really ~ant t~ help. So
you'll get a copy of this calendar as soon as we get the fi~al typed up.
e Kubitz; Are you mailing those out to everyone?
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Senior Commission Meeting
AU$lust 21, 1992 - Page 24
Colby: No. The calendar will just be available.
like the way they put it in th~paper. .When they do those columns
baRause I don't thinkpeopl. see it so well. I wish that he would~
Kubitz: No, because I have been told, I said something about not coming
to the center and she said'well you haven't sent me a calendar yet SQ I
~ have ~calendar to go by.
Colby: Yeah. 1 just don't think we have the budget to do that kind of a
mailing. We ean talk to Paul.
Kubitz: A lower class mailihg. You've been going firstcl~ssmailing.
What's the matter with taking the flyer, folding it,taping it, stapling .'
it, putting the label on, return and that is much cheaper. .
Howard:' The other day somewhere I heard the comment, because I put
things in the paper so I listen very carefully when people criticize.
And I think the point should bew.lltaken about putting posters in the
bank and in .churches. People don 'talways read their junk mail. They
don't alway~ read their first class mail. But the grocery store bulletin
board. I think you weresaring some of that Jane and others and I think
. that is a better idea thana mailing.
Hei nlei n: In a bank, put it in the door there.. I'm sure they'd allow us
to do .that. '
Howard:
.1 think we should try that sort of advert is in$).
I
I have that calendar where I can check it constantly and r think
lot of people need that..
Kubitz:
this, a
Heinlein: ...al1 I had was the one with my name with just the greeters
on it.
Kubitz: And there is a cheaper way to do a mailing
Colby: Yeah, it's cheaper. It's still expensive.
t.hebulk too, ~ell l' II tal kto Paul.
And the problem with
,Howard: .You still can't make people read it. Like these survey people
were saying. They get 10% results. One said 20. 1 think morethanth~t
would read it on a bulletin board in a groceryor,lnthe window of a bank
or whatever. But those people go to those grocery stores where you
wouldn't put the ad. Well, we'll soon have a grocery and I'm sure all of
Chanhassen will test our new grocery.
Heinlein: ~ven at the card shop, I'm sure they'd
People are iri and out~f there all the time.
Howard: Brook Supermarket. Xeah.
Montgomery: This is somethr'ng you can take up at your
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Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 .,;.. Page 25
Colby: Yeah, we were talking about it and that's why I'm hoping that we
get assigned, people at the Advisory Board to do each of this and
publicizing bysignage was one of the. We'.re goi ngto have .greeters
traini ng' on August 31st. ,October 13th we're going to have a nutr itionist
talk and a box lunch. The coordinator over at SouttiShore is taping some
classic films Bunny ~o we can maybe use those our Thursday night.
Howard: When is the training? August 31st?
Colby: August 31st at 9:30 in the morning.,
Howard: Can ~nyone come?
Colby: Anyone that would be interested in being a greeter. And maybe
at that time, if we know anything mo~e" You wouldn't know anything more
about the Answer Line. And I imagine you'll all heard by now that I'm
going to have to be le~wing as coordinator of the center, r need to set
the record straight. I understand that it 'sheen said that my company or
my husband's company is not doing well and that's isn't why I'm leaving .
the center. Part of the problem is that his company is doing weIland we
want to buy th~ stock options which are coming due this fall. And there
wasa,planfor the offi~ers to nave assistance in getting those. stock
optionsandthe'plan fell through so now we're kind of on our ,own to get
these, and that's kind of. That's going to make mea lady of leisure.
I'm thinking when I retire and sol want to get those stock optIons, or
elseit will. pay for the education for the kids probably. But it's the
other day twas real embarrassed at the Advisory meeting because it's the
first time in my history as a professional that I lost it during a
meeting. This is going to be the second time.
Bragg: That's ,what makes you'good with people.
Montgdmery: That's why we hate to hear you're going. We're ~bout to do
that too so~we'llbry together.
Colby: During vacation it seemed to be, I.put off thinking about it for
so many weeks and during vacation and the time with the kids,! realized
that they really were the ones that were sufferlng this summer too with
m~ being gone as much and th& phone calling and that. And sol ~elt
pretty good that weekend I came home. When we were driving hom~ r
thought, no it's the right decision. And 'then when I got all the calls
for where'd you get the, on our answering machine, it was'really'funny
because the family was sitting there and,they were just going like
brother. Where'd you get the ice .cr.eam for the ice cream social. From
one,churchci:dled and the elementary school called and I just thought,
boy when you live in the community, it really does involve more. . But I
talked to Jo Ann and she said, well don't mention it to anyone then until
r get back to you. $0 when she came to the Advisory Board meet,ingand
she said, well did you tell them.. I just wasn't ready. I was kind of
and.. .and it just all came out you know. It's a dream I've had and I
just hatet,o give it up at this point and so I'm hopi ngto keep in close
enough contactthat.whatever the city decides, the next person is not
going to be forever ~nd I'm hoping ,to be the third person.
e MontgOmErry: That's a wonderful thing to hear Judy.
Colby: And I did mention to Barbara when I talked to
problem really is being committed to a set time. That's my biggest
problem because my free lancing,. I'vE:\ got a little bit of give {ZInd take
there but when 'I have to be committed to a number of days here, it
reall~, it wa~ just too much. That 12 hours didn't sound like as much as
it felt like. So ~thou~ht maybe if we're loose enough on the Advis6ry,
Board, that maybe I could join the Advisory Board, and I haven~t,t~lked
to Paul about this. I supposed I really should mention it to P~ulto $e~
if he has any problems with that. But then I could work at'myschedule
you know , $0 ~&Jhen you need somethi og, on the advisory board I can do ,it
according to my te~ms~Nothaving to be here .atthis day and this day
and this day. So that's what I'm hoping to do and I'll keep my fingers.
Senior. Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Pag& 26
, , '
Montgomery: That's a wonderful offer Judy.
Colby: So if you all please don't show me too much'kindness
'logo ~gain, I would appreciate it.,
Kubitz: Is the City gettfhg ~nother director then?
AI-Jaff: We met with Senior Community Services. It
the advisory board meeting.
Tuesday. Or Wednesday.
AI-Jaff: Okay, it was on Wedn~sday. And what we came u~ with i~, we're
goi ng to interview agal n .It wi 11 be di fficultto replace Judy but, we'Te
going to interview again. Dawn, with Park and Recreation is going to be
spending, we thought maybe 20 hours a week progr ammi ngfor the senfor
center as well so thi~way you will have somebody from Senior,~ommunity
Services as well as somebody from th~ city which would give the center
more hours.
-
Al"7'Jaff: Okay. The make""'up of Chanhassen
different. You havey6ur advisory board.
director and Dawn will be the programmer.
relationship is going to workout yet~ I
Heinlein: I k~ow the way we had it based, of cours~ we had our
president. We had the vice president. The secretary, treasurer
program planner. Those were the officers that were in chai~e'of
our, any of the senior centersin~hicago.
But then you
I don't know
really don't.
Kubitz: It's going to be different when the AdvisOiY
president and officers andare.oiganized because then they
to iun a lot more than what we're doing now.
AI-J~ff: Jane, I don't know if it~s ~ fair comparison but right now you
have the commission and we are the staff. It would be something very
similar.~ I mean we do the work. We answer to you. We br i ng
recommendations to you and you direct us,. It w6uld be something very
similar. You will have your advisory board. You will hav& Oawn arid
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cemmissien Meeting
21~ 1992'- Page 27
semeene frem Senier Cemmunity Services that will de the pregramming,
discuss everything with the advisery beard and get directien. '
Kubitz:/ But will yeu still haveSenier c'emmunity Services when yeu do.n't
get the Ble6kGrant meneyfrem HennepinCeunty?
We weuld 1 i keto., yes.
,
Kubitz: That was a que~tien that came up in
bleck grant mDney.
AI~Jaff: Well what we are gDingright nDW is, Dr actually P~ul and
Tedd Heffman, are werking en the budget. Werking en the budget right
new. The budget's are due now. , 1 mean they're in the precess ef werking
cnthem. They are geing to. request funding fera'co.o.rdinater in case the
city leses the bleck grant meney.
Mentgemery: Yeu mean frem the city?
AI-Jaff: Cerrect.
Kubitz: Well then de yo.ustill work with Senier
AI-Jaff: Well we~d like to..
Kubitz: They're Hennepin Ceunty and I theught'they'd maybe ,scratch them.
Ai-Jaff: No., yeu den'~have to. be in the bleck grant
services frem Senier Cemmuni ty Services.
to. receive,
Kubitz: Ithpught that was strictly Hennepin Ceunty.
Heward: Buffalo. is Wright CDunty.Delano.. They're no.t
Hennepin.
Al-jaff: They are an agency. It's just that they qualify to. receive
funds~remthe City.
Kubitz: Well I kno.w that but I theught
with Hennepin Ceunty.
Al-jaff: No.. No.. They ca~ eperate, I den't kne~ if it's 7
The 7 co.unty metre area but yeu can ask them to. render their
I believe anywhere. It's just anether public agency.
, '
Heinlein: Well that's anetherthing_ In talking. abeut Seuth Shere.
we're planning Bingo. en Wednesdays. Every trip that they're bringing
is en a Wednesday.
St. John: It's net just the Binge players that have been co.mplaining
abeut that.
co.lby: New Duluth is co.ming up en Thursday.
It st. John: Duluth is on a Wednesday.
Colby: No, Thursday. 24th.
Montgomery: Excuse me, I'd like to interrupt here because It:hink this
is not a commission issue. .~ think this belongs in the Adviso~YBoard
and in the senior center discussion. If that's' okay wi thyou, '1 just
think that we shouldn 'ttake the time. But r do think that it's
important to know what direction we're going to take as far as the.
Al-Jaff~ Welithe reason why we want to stay with the, one of the
~easons. The many reasons why we would like to stay with Senior
Community Services, is because of this situation. For instanc~~
programming. Two events that are clashing with each other. This way the
diy.ecto~scould try. and work it out to where the prograrns would work out
better. We believe that, is that making sense?
It
Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Page 28
Colby: Well, it's real hard when you plan an event, for all the senior
community service centers. They just do that event and combine centers
to 90 on a particular day. I don't think they. do call the centers and
say, what do you have happening that day or you know. They plan the
ma'jor events and then the centers, if you have cards, . you don 't go to
cards. Or if you have you know,' so. they haven't in the past with me
anyway, asked if there was anything" in conflict. They've just scheduled.
Kubitz: Such as the ice cream social.
Colby: I .think when you're doi ng so many centers, we alwayscornbine with
South Shore qnd I think they Just plan those events. Talking about that
, event and then the centers kind 6f, you know so.
AI-Jaff: Maybe it's something that the Senior Advisory
discuss,likeBarbara said.
I
Colby: Right, that's right.
Montgomery: And I think that once you know what the setup is going to
be, then the advisory board will be able to determine how t9re~0lve
these problems because we don't know yet. What the set~up's going to be
or.
Howard: As we become larger, I think we will become more separated from
South Shore and we'll be abie to stand on our own two feet. It won't
matter that they have a trip on Wednesday and we have something~
Hopefully.
St. John: The.reason that some of. these trips are combined,
there are not enough people froM one center.
Howard: Well, hopefullY,in the future we'll have enough.
'St. John: Well, look at Westonka. Yesterday we picked up from Westonka,
South Shore and Chanhassen on a trip that 1 was an esco~t for.
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Senior Commission
August 21, 1992 -
Heinle.in: . . . was allover the place yesterday . Have you signed up yet
for the one the end, of Septembe~...
Montgomery: Excuse me again. We keep getting into the advisory board
issues and Id'on't think that's what we should get .into here.
1 ,.- ,
Kubitz: Where we run into a problem because Judy has the answers to
these and she is not th~re very often and who has th~ answers. And so
we're here ',.and we' need an answer.
Heinlein: Because we're not all on the advisory board.
Colby: I've not been told that there's
participate in. We're usually divided up pretty
Shore. We have tickets for this rendevous.
Heinlein: .~.because! wanted to go and I know,my neighbors do too.
Montgomery: Don't. you thi nkthat as we get f~rther Int.o this, that the
programming will be done far.ther ahead so that it's easier for,everybody
to plan. RIght now it's just in a transitIon period and those things are
hot firmed up yet and~,thinklt just takes some.~atience and it will.
You sound I I ke the Pre,sIdent.
I just think you know, it will straighten outb,ut right now
we're going through this shakedown cruise and there are a lot of things
that are cha~ging. And Judy I just thin~ ! speak fo~ all o~~s when we
say we just are really sorrY because you have been wonderful and we
really appreciated all your 'hard work an~ you really we~t to bat to
the place open.
Colby: I couldn't have done it without any of your help. You,guys
just great and I intend.to keep in contact with all of you.
Montgomery: Well I hope so and rthink that's a wonderful offer of
helping on the adVisory. I hope we'll see a lot of you b.caus.we're
going to miss you. And we'll be eagerly hoping.that you will be coming
back. ""
Colby: Those are my plans. Those are my plans.
, ,
Montgomery: Well, we'll certainly be keeping that in mind.
you have anything more that you wanted to, tell us about the
or when we can expect to hear some word about something or?
direct9r. .
Sharmin, did
future plans
About the
AI-Jaff: No~ Nothing ri~ht now. r basically told you everything that
has;taken place. The next time they interview, Planning is going to step
a,side Ithi nk and it would be more of Park and Recreation that will be
involved in it because Senior Center operation it's not, we're staffed
for the senior commission. Park and Recreation will work'withthe Senior
Center and Senior Adv ieory Board. .
It Howard: When is Dawn?
AI-Jaff: She's coming back on Monday and I'm sure .shewill resume
responsibilities immediately. . .
Howard: So at our next Advisory Board meeting in,September,
there?
Al~Jaff: Yeah. This wee~ she was on vacation. I wanted
downstairs and introduce her.
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Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Page 30
Bragg: What is her last name?
Montgomery: When is your last
Colby: Next week waS supposed to be
community Services so I'm assuming.
lohger but I think with Dawn here, I
need..
Al~Jaff: It's Dawn Lemme.
Colby: Well that wi 11 be grea/t if she can give 20 hours.
tob~ wonderful.
AI-Jaff: Again, that's a guesstimate from my side. I don't
how many hours she will be able to.
Montgomery: Then would she be funded by Park and Rec?
e
It would be Park and Rec and Senior Center..
(There~"'as a tape change at this point in the discussion.)
Montgomery: Anything else You'd like to tell us?
Colby: No~
-Montgomery: Sharmin?
Ai-Jaff: I'm done.
(
SENIOR COMMISSION COMMENTS.
Bragg: I 'vegot something for number 9. I think this is relevan't.
we opened our center here a,nd South Shore has had a lot of talk a,bout
their situation. I think they're very envious that this ii,acommunit1
center because it's in the City Hall~ And so therefore it isn't:
assodiated with any.onereligion. It's ecumenical and they feel that
they're not growing over there because it's ~ituation in a church rather
than j n a less, oh let's say. People from one church wi 11 say, well I
can't go there because I belong to another on.. That's kind of an old
fashioned idea but they feel iit is holding them down. $0 they w~nt
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Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, .1<192 - Page 31
through the census figures for 1990 and I think after attending that
session with the Housing, they all said they used the census figures to
make a lot of requests. So with the census figures they provided the
Advisory Committee wIth those for each of the cities that use Sobth
Shore. .. They have the 1980 ,without Chanhassen'.! And then they have the
1990 with Chanhassen. And they have a figure here of how many seniors
that are 60+ years old and for Chanhassen they have 715 people. over the
age of 60 in this corporate area. And the total number of peoplein\
Chanhassen are 11,732. So if you're saying that you 're having a hard
time getting the center filled right from the beginning, you can see that
you. have. fewer people in the whole corporate city. And the .others,let
me just finish giving. this to you bec.ause I am saying that they now are
g'oin9 to go to the existing cities ,that are still in South Shore and
presenting to each of their City Councils the need for a senior center
which they would like to~have separate from the chu'rch~ Not that the
church hasn't been adequate. It's just that simple designation; well if
you don't belong to that chu.ch,why are you.soins'therefor a senior
center? It's just like if we used st. Hubert's facilities for our senior
center, we might not have had the numbe. of people responding.
Howard: They are eliminating Chanhassen from this.
8ragg: They are elimi nating Chanhassen from this ,absolutely. . And so
they are going to the other cities which are Tonka Bay, Shorewood,
'Excelsior, Greenwood .ndDeephaven. And of that, those cities are all
differeritsizes. So ,they did haVe to extr~pulate the number of. seniors
over age 60 that are in that total city. Now Tonka Bay is a small
city. It only has 1,457 people. Of that, 204. are seniors. Compare that
number with what Chanhassen has it's, they have more seniors per capita
than we do. So what I'm saying is, I've heard everybody is so>downdn
the ~tart up mo~thwhich was a real. hard push. It still takes awhile
'for people to see that they have this center and that it's available for
them. So !don't think you should be discouraged. That 'sthe point I
wanted to make.ahdthento show you when we remove ourselves from South
Shotethey arepicki ng up and gol n9 on. They are very jealous of the
facti that you have this center 'in this building. They're trying to get
anoth~r benter for them~elves. I.don't know if it will be successful.
Kubitz,: In the paper a week ago it said ShOTl3WOod City Council something
or other . \
Bragg: No. That's part of thisdrlve that they~remaking.
going to each of the r~maining centers and presenting their need and if
one of them says , well you canb.ui Id here. . They are, still saying they
would prefer to have it in Excelsior because, Just like you have your's
here in Chanhassen,you have a center city. The planning is very good
he'Cebecause you now are going to have your shopping center he'Ce. Your
dootoT is. hete. Your post office here and everything.
st. John: Shorewood is one of the villages.
e 'Kubitz: Yeah, one of the villages that goes to.
Bragg: But they .don't even have a center city.
Sentor Commission Mee'ting
August 21, 1992 - Page 32
.
This is the proposal that
"\
Kubitz:
BY.gg: No, their proposal went to Shorewood, Excelsior,
Deephaven and Tonka Bay, which ar~ the remaining cities.
Kubitz: That article I read only said Shorewood.
,'. st. J9hn: WelTShorewood put that out but it goes
Montgomery: Betty, what wa~ the total number of seniors in
then as compared to ours~ '
Bragg: Ther~ were 1,905 seniors that is over age 60.
population of 14,113.
Was that the 90's census?
That-'s the 90's census.
Howard:
13,000.
Because we heard just a couple of
Now in '90 we were 11,000.
T~at's right. Almost 12,000...
Now'we're over 13.
e Bragg: It will' keep growing.
Montgomery: Andas'we have more senior facilit1es here,
sure wor k.
Bragg: So I'm giving you comparative figures to show you that it's goiDg
to grOvJ ,slowly and not to be discouraged . But they on the other .' hand,
aTe regrouping and they're aski ng their support! ng cities to(look; at
building them a 6enter. ,. '
Howard: Now are you two gals going to help out in this group
out?
Bragg: I haven't done that and my approach now is to spend my time ~..,ith
the SAIL proJect. 'That's my interest. Because mi term ~il1 be,~veriti
December and I'm revving up to work with the others andpy6b~bly just
come occasionally because,somebody will be sitting in my chair here.
Howard: I mean are you withdrawing from South Shore?
Bragg: No, I'm not withdrawing from there but I'm...
St.John: But Chanhassen here,f havi n9 thei I. center here and having a
location for it have a better foundation than South Shore has.
Br-agg:; .. .~here they say they ale not ~Jiowing.
Senior Commission Meeting'
A~gust 21,1992- Page 33
AI-Jaff: Ben Withart had discussed this issue with Paul too. A~d Jodd
Hoffman and myself at the .last meeting. And he basically said the same
thing that you are saying and he said he wasn't goi ngtohi t Channa,ssen
fo~ any money to support it.
. St. John: We've been thankful that they have supported us these years
and helped us.
Well I'm sure that Chanhassen will continue to support South
Bragg: At the last meeting I said that we could not be, I did not
that I could be on the, advisory over there anymore because I said
city is not part of th~t anymore. And they said we'll charge you
everything YOU do. So that's ess~ntially saying, go.
st. John: well we have Esther. Th.re~s different ones that live in
Chanhassen that, are on th~ Advisofy Board at South Shore.
Bragg: That's ,the end of my report. I thought that ~..,as an' interesti ng
extrapulationof census figures ,to show how that is used in building
concepts in centers.
Montgomery: Make us feel a little nervous about'how many people we have.
AI-Jaff: I handed out an age breakdown, seniors. Older adults 1n Carver
County.)ust to, it's only a for your information item. Just to let yo
know what the breakdown is and how many seniors we have in this city in
comparison. This is what it looks like, in comparison to Cet'ver County.
Howard: I was simply amazed. I haven't seen any of those men.
AI-Jaff:. I'll send them your way next time. We have the highest
population ages 60 to 64 in the city. In relationship to Carver County.
And then \lJe drop down as the age, bracketi ncreases. So again it's just
for your information.
Montgomet'Y= *hanksShaTm~n. That~~ helpful;
Al-Jaff: It was handed out at the, SAC. Senior Advisory Council,
yesterday and I . thought you might be interested.
~10ntgomery: I think it's to our advantage too that we have the, 1990
census figures now. ,You know for the housing. For all kinds of things.
That's helpful~ Rather than wor~ing with 1980 figures.
AI-Jaff: It 'would have been nice to have addresses with
e
r think I madethe!pointwhenwe had our meeting on Tuesday that
SAIL is not just these 5 counties. That the whole State of Minnesota is
broken up into 6 SAIL areas and the reason for that is, that they are no
longer funding more nursing homes. So it's up to the communities to
provide the resourceS to keep their not so seriously ill people out of
nursing homes by providing serviees ~hrough their own communities. Arid
Senior Commission Meeting
August 21, 1992 - Page 34
e I tried .to make that poi ntand I think this
Montgomery: Well I think we've come to the
another comment. Shall we adjourn.
Howard moved, Billison seconded to adjourn the meeting.
favor and the motion carried.
Submitted by Paul Krauss
Planning Director
Prepared by Nann Opheim
t
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