TRAVERSE CITY -- Another step has been taken to improve the quality of life for area seniors.
The Grand Traverse County Commission signed off on a plan with Traverse City to merge the Senior Center and the County Commission on Aging.
While the city still needs to approve the plan, this merger will bring new programs and new opportunities.
Grand Traverse Commission on Aging Director Georgia Durga says, "As we get closer and as more of these milestones get passed by it gets a lot more fun and a lot more exciting it's really going to happen.”
Georgia Durga is the director of the grand traverse commission on aging and says partnering with the senior center means it can help many more seniors.
Durga says the money from the millage passed last November will allow it to expand outreach service programs -- like meals, health services and social events.
Durga says both the County Commission on Aging and the Senior Center provide a service called Information and Referrals which is a data base seniors and families can use.
The merger also means new programs which is something that's creating a buzz among seniors.
Traverse City Resident Sue Sabourin says, "The merging of these two will give more opportunities to seniors in the area and people moving in and people that are already here!"
Grand Traverse County Commissioner Christine Maxbauer says, "seniors are starting to talk about forming hiking clubs, their talking about computer classes they want to be involved more in their community, this is an opportunity to do so."
Traverse City Commissioner Jim Carruthers says he's confident the Traverse City is on board and will sign the agreement within the next couple weeks. He also says this merger is the start of County and City collaboration on future projects.
Carruthers says, "It’s something that we've been looking into for sometime, something that the State is now pushing for us to do to grab revenue interest in State funding."
