Officials and community members are awaiting the upcoming senior center set to begin construction in Rowan County this year. Though progress may appear to be slow from the outside, the Judge Executive’s office said it is continuing to push the project forward. These senior services, which have taken place in various facilities countywide, are set to receive a designated home behind Ambulance Station 2 off US 60 in Morehead.
The senior center’s planning phase is complete, aiming to bring its members many amenities they might not already have. Land approval agreements are also finished, meaning the property is ready to go out to bid for construction.
Harry Clark, Rowan County Judge Executive, said the 6,000 square foot facility will open lots of opportunities for these seniors to socialize, which might be a rare opportunity for people in rural parts of the county.
“It’ll have an exercise facility, which they’ve never had before. We’ve got enough green space around it that they’ll be able to get out and walk if they choose to. An outdoor patio. And we’ll dress it up a little bit when we get it done, we’ll probably put some outdoor swings in and some things that they can get out and talk and visit with one another,” said Clark.
The building will also contain a spacious kitchen where members can take cooking classes and try new recipes.
Clark said the winter weather has slowed this part of the process down, but he is optimistic about the results of the bid.
“We also got some hope. Mount Sterling, Montgomery County, bid their senior center. It came in a pretty good amount, a significant amount, I think 400 thousand dollars less than what the architects and engineers had proposed or had estimated it would be,” said Clark.
Once the bid is complete, Clark said the senior center will be in contract likely by April with construction to begin soon after. Clark added that once started, he foresees the building being complete in eight to twelve months.