COA clarifies issues relating to the proposed Sturgis Senior Center

The executive director of St. Joseph County’s Commission on Aging made some clarifications Tuesday regarding the proposed Sturgis Senior Center building, its funding and related issues.
Addressing the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, Lynn Coursey noted the $2.6 million the commission fronted to the COA Oct. 7 was a loan and set aside in an account as a fund to work from.
She said the money was intended for a turnkey operation, including furnishings, electronics, computers and anything else to make the proposed facility operational when it is up and running.
In addition, Coursey made clear the COA will never own the proposed building. She said it would be owned eventually by the St. Joseph County Building Authority and the COA will pay rent, not a mortgage.
The proposed Sturgis senior center remains in the design stage.