The Edwards County Council on Aging (ECCOA) Board President Doug Raber made a presentation at the March 24, 2025 West Salem Village Board meeting. Mr. Raber explained that ECCOA is operating at a $10,000 a month loss, and while they would like to keep operating as they have been, it is no longer sustainable. ECCOA requested to be released from their lease for the West Salem building. They suggested that the Village cover all of the costs of operating the West Salem Senior Center – including all utilities, staffing, and meals. He stated that the West Salem Senior Center is currently operating at a loss of approximately $48,000 per year. The West Salem Village Board requested additional information from ECCOA.
The ECCOA Board met on Wednesday, March 26th. Several West Salem residents attended, including Mayor Jeffrey Bradham, and Trustee Chris Ray.
ECCOA Board Meeting Take Aways:
- The ECCOA provided an income statement for their Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2024 (see attached).
- Mayor Bradham read aloud an official request for additional information to the ECCOA Board, and shared the financial contributions provided by the Village of West Salem (see attached).
- ECCOA Executive Director April Campbell-Rickey shared that the State of Illinois suggested that if cuts were necessary, residents outside of Albion could be placed on a ‘wait list’ until additional funding could be found because their funding is based on the population of Albion.
- Approximately 14% of their funding comes from the State; 29% comes from the Federal government; 38% from meal income; and about 20% comes from local donations.
- As of March 26, 2025, the ECCOA Board had not approached the Edwards County Board, or any other governmental body in Edwards County other than West Salem, to request additional financial assistance.
- During the meeting, the ECCOA Board decided to ask to be on the agenda for the next Edwards County Board meeting. They also discussed asking Albion, Grayville, Browns, and Bone Gap for funding.
- Several audience members (West Salem residents) had questions and suggestions, including asking if donations made to the West Salem Senior Center would be returned. The ECCOA Board did not have many answers at this time as they are working through this situation.
- The ECCOA Board did not take any action on the West Salem Senior Center. They tabled their decision for 30 days.
- The next ECCOA Board meeting is April 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM in Albion.
West Salem Senior Center Financial Statement:
Letter to the ECCOA Board from the West Salem Board: