From Independence County Judge Kevin Jeffery —
The $3.5 million Independence County Senior Citizens Center had its grand opening this week. Our area seniors have had their careers, have done their part to make America the best country on the planet, and now have a new space to socialize, be entertained, and enjoy delicious meals during their retirement. Meals on Wheels will also be distributed from this center. Please take time to visit the new senior center.
The road to here: In 2022, the Quorum Court of Independence County and Judge Robert Griffin approved the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to build a new facility on ground secured from the Batesville School District, located on Elm Street in Batesville. Plans were drawn by Miller Newell Engineers (Robert Chatman), and with the help of White River Planning and Development District (Jan Smith, Mitzi Poff Hargan, Carrie McIntosh, and others), an additional $400,000 was secured from AEDC. A local fundraising effort was also launched for furnishings and was headed up by Admiral Robert Carius (Ret.) and Center Director Selina Wallis and staff.
In January 2023, the concept was only on paper. I arrived on site to realize a daunting task lay ahead to make this project a reality. It was very apparent that huge site preparation was required, as the property had a 17-foot elevation delta that needed to be filled, compacted, and leveled. This site prep project required some 40,000 cubic yards of fill, equating to 1,800 loads. As I took the ceremonial first demolition swipe, the men at the Independence County Road Department performed this epic task most expeditiously, with site compaction exceeding requirements.
This truly has been a community project. Many thanks to all the gracious contributors, the kind volunteers, the plethora of contractors, and all of the Independence County workers. Thanks also to site inspector Billy Mack (Miller Newell), the Batesville Water Department (David Justice), Road Department (Johnny Coles), and Fire Department (Mark McCollum), the Batesville School District (David Campbell and others), John 3:16 for moving from the old site to the new center, White River Area Agency on Aging (Ted Hall), my partner in uploading all data to the ARPA Federal Database—Independence County Treasurer Bob Treadway, accounting firm Hughes Welch & Milligan Ltd.—Couch William T CPA for conducting the federal funds audits, First Community Bank, Citizens Bank, Bob Connell & Arkansas Radio, and all of the patrons of the senior center.
