TRANSPORTATION
FOR SENIORS AND
THE DISABLED: A public workshop has been scheduled on May 28 from
10
a.m.
until noon
at the College
of Siskiyous
Weed
campus, McCloud building, Room 3, to provide input on a “Coordinated Public Transit-
Human Services Transportation Plan” for Siskiyou
County.
The plan will be used to access grant funding for public transportation for Seniors and
the disabled.
In
North
County,
free buses to the meeting and back will leave at 8:45
from the County Court House in Yreka; 8:55
from the Walmart shopping center; 9:05
from Grenada
(Shepard of God); and 9:20 from Gazelle across from the post office. Scott Valley Seniors may ride free on
the morning commuter bus to connect.
Please contact Tom Anderson at STAGE (530) 842-8295 for additional information. We
know that the need for Senior transportation is particularly great. Please turn out and
tell us your story!
COMMITTEE
ON
AGING:
The relatively new Committee on Aging, currently under the Siskiyou County Community
Services Council, is moving right along. The Committee is looking at the Tehama County
Elder Services Coordinating Council as a possible organizational model. Meetings are held
in the Tech.
Center building at College of the Siskiyous Yreka, and are well attended by organizations
and interested individuals. The next meeting is scheduled on June 25 from 1:30-3
p.m.
This
past meeting, we discussed the heating needs of low income Seniors and possible plans to
help ease difficulties this winter. Michael Flannery, Energy Programs Coordinator for
Great Northern Corp., reported that the California
funded LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) had been discontinued several
years ago. The federal block grant program
remains, but at a substantial decrease in available funding for Siskiyou
County.
All low income individuals may apply. Priority points are awarded based on gross income,
the “energy burden” or cost of energy related to income, and whether there are
small children or elderly in the household. About 1,000 eligible households have been
applying each year and only about 60% are provided with some cash assistance.
In
the past, Seniors have been told that gas companies will not deliver less than 100
gallons. A court case determined that the minimum delivery amount is 50 gallons, although
the company may levy a delivery charge. There has also been a problem with wood cutters
who have had difficulty waiting 45 days for payment. Yreka has created a program where:
Deadwood Inmates have provided chords of cut wood; Rotary has picked up the chords; the
Yreka City yard has stored the wood; the Senior Nutrition site has then issued vouchers to eligible Seniors who are allowed
to arrange for pick up of the wood at the city yard. This could be replicated in other
areas of the county.
John
Schuyler of the Klamath
National
Forest
spoke about the three types of fire wood cutting permits: personal use; commercial use;
and special opportunities. A family or individual is limited to one permit to cut from
four to 12 chords of wood (4X4X8 feet.) The cost is $5 a chord for the permit. Maps are
provided for allowable cutting areas.
Special
Opportunity
permits are issued for areas where the Forest Service wants wood removed to reduce fuels,
handle blow down or behind a gate. Service clubs could be provided with the permit to cut
wood. Sometimes an inmate crew or fire crew cuts and stacks the wood on a logging landing. In such cases, a service club could be provided
with the tags to remove the stacked wood
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