Last fall, a new van was purchased for the Bonney Lake Senior Center. A member of the Senior Advisory Board, who wishes to remain anonymous, is making every effort she can to keep the old van as a backup for the center.
The City Council originally intended to sell the old van to cover a portion of the new van’s cost but it was plagued with unexpected maintenance needs from the beginning. For that reason, the center temporarily kept the old van as a backup.
Fast forward several months and the new van is in good working order; the City Council is preparing to finally sell the old one for $4,000.
In the spirit of compromise, the board member dug deep into her heart and bank account to muster up the $4,000 City Council is seeking, in addition to the money needed for new tires. She offered to purchase the van and then donate it back to the city, specifically for the senior center’s use.
The vans are typically used for local runs to transport seniors to and from the senior center but they’re occasionally utilized for longer activity trips as well. As the city continues to grow, the senior center has seen an increase in ridership and overall participation. With that, comes great needs that one van cannot fulfill, according to some.
Woody Edvalson, administrative services director and city clerk, said the old van has clearly been useful to the senior center. They have put more than 4,000 miles on it since October, in addition to also using the new one.
“The seniors have seen having (two vans) around is advantageous to provide the flexibility and additional services they need,” he said. “I understand their interest and on the surface it sounds like a great thing but the city also needs to consider all the variables in play.”
The City Council faces financial constraints, said Edvalson. Besides the initial purchase price, the question of who will pay for routine maintenance, repairs and insurance coverage of the second van remains unanswered.
The board member said the senior center can’t afford such commitments, which leaves the city to assume those responsibilities for both vans.
“We’re not rich people,” the board member said. “This is a big sacrifice but it’s something we feel strongly about. There are people at the senior center we dearly love; people who depend on the van. For some of them, the only hot meal they get each day is at the center. We just hope the city will consider accepting our gift and save the van.”
The seniors are incredibly grateful for the new van but one vehicle just isn’t enough for them anymore, she added. When a backup vehicle was necessary in the past, the fire department would loan one to the center. A generous act, she said, but unfortunately it falls short because the loaner doesn’t have wheelchair access.
The next step is for city officials to meet with the Senior Advisory Board for a discussion of details and optional outcomes. At the time of press, no such talks were scheduled but are expected in the near future.
