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Free Lunch program-Seniors

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FREE LUNCH PROGRAM-SENIORS

Recently a program was brought to our attention titled "Congregate Dining" which is promoted by the East Texas Council Of Goverment whom also oversees the "Meals on Wheels" program in Wood county. We became aware of the congregate dining program when the Holly Lake Volunteer Fire Department was approached to be the serving site for the program for Holly Lake - Hawkins area. The word spread and the program was referred to by most as the "Free Lunch" program, which in fact is what it is.

The initial research on the program revealed that the "only" means test for the program for the participant was that they be 60 years of age or older. Since the average age of the Holly Lake Ranch resident is about 65, the majority of the residents qualified. FREE LUNCH. Further research indicated that it was anticipated by the provider of the meals (Traditions restaurant of Tyler) that about 110 meals per day would be served between 11:30am and 12:30pm. The Fire Department indicated that they were not interested in being the serving site, for several reasons, mainly for the logistics problems.

Upon doing a survey with the businesses close to Holly Lake Ranch and those in the City of Hawkins, the WCWTP found that the restaurants would suffer greatly by way of lost business and some indicated that they would be forced to close as a result of the "FREE LUNCH" program. This appears to be another step by the Federal government to create a "Nanny State" and get rid of Free Enterprise! The Holly Lake Ranch area is not a "depressed" area and most of the residents can afford their own lunch or use Meals on Wheels.

After the Volunteer Fire Department turned down the program, Traditions and the ETCOG approached the Holy Spirit Catholic Church at Holly Lake. We The People of Wood County contacted several members of the Church and related the research done by WCWTP as to the impact the FREE LUNCH program would have on the business community near Holly Lake Ranch and Hawkins. To the credit of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, they decided not to interfere with "free enterprise capitalism" and will not be hosting the program.

WCWTP contacted the ETCOG's office in Kilgore, Texas and asked several questions about the congregate dining program and was sent the following;

"The target population for ETCOG's Senior Nutrition Program, as described in the Older Americans Act are: individuals 60 or older, older individuals residing in rural areas, older individuals with greatest economic need (with particular attention to low income minority individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas), older individuals with the greatest social need (with particular attention to low income minority individuals and older

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Congregate Dining

Holly Lake Ranch

individuals residing in rural areas, older individuals with severe disabilities, older individuals with limited English proficiency and older individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders with neurological and organic brain dysfunction (and their caretakers of such individuals"). Again, the above program does not depict the Holly Lake Ranch community

WCWTP contacted our State Representative and found that he did not feel that the congregate Dining program was a proper use of the taxpayer's money and ordered an "Audit" of ETCOG. It turned out that the program was not an efficient use of the tax dollars and they did not follow written procedure in their procurement process in awarding of contracts to bidders for meal providers. They awarded a contract to a business whom had not even entered a bid over three or four other bidders. The ETCOG's rationale was that there was an emergency for continuation of meals since the ETCOG had not awarded a contract or renewal. (Why would you award a contract to a business that was never in the bidding process, over proper bidders?)

In reviewing the audit SAO Report 10-038 (which can be found at; www.sao.state.tx.us/reports/main/10-038.pdf) it is difficult to discern the "congregate dining" program as it is lumped in with "Child Care Services', Rural Transportation Program and Senior Nutrition Program for 14 East Texas counties. The congregate dining program chart indicates that initially a request for providers covered 8 counties but the final was for only Wood County.

The audit did not break apart the counties nor did it delve into the cost of management assigned to each county along with the cost of each meal and the number of meals reimbursed to the provider per month.( although the latter was provided to WCWTP by the Kilgore office indicating that 958 meals were provided at the Hainesville location in January of 2011). It is the view of WCWTP that the audit was "softballed" in the "congregate dining" portion, although it did outline some specific and blatant infractions which are summarized as follows;

1. The council did not follow their documented process for awarding contracts.

2. The council did not document the criteria used to resolve an appeal of an award recommendation.

3. The council had a standard criteria for #2 but disregarded it. (We don't have to follow procedures)

4. The council never documented the criteria they used in lieu of their documented process. (perhaps if it's not on paper, it can't be used against them).

5. The council did not adequately document a plan for operating and evaluating a congregate dining program or the cost associated with it. (why bother, it's nobody else's business. It's just taxpayer's money)

NOTE: When the ETCOG took over the congregate dining program, their pilot program cost per meal was nearly double that of the prior providers at the same meal locations. (Again, poor planning on the part of ETCOG and reckless use of taxpayer's money) NOTE: Who does the ETCOG report to? It would seem that they are complicit in this as well.

Not included in the audit was a finding of a "community business impact study". We can only deduce that government agencies or at least the ETCOG in particular, is only interested in building it's own empire and working towards the "Nanny State".

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Congregate Dining

The audit did not address the guidelines by which ETCOG claim to operate under.

The guidelines which are handed out to each individual seeking a congregate meal is;

Texas Administration Code

Title 40, Part 1, Chapter 85

SUBCHAPTER D, Rule ~85.302

A brief synopsis follows;

(a) Purpose; establishes requirements for nutrition services

(b) Eligibility;

(A) is 60 years of age or older (NOTE: no means test)

(B) meets the eligibility criteria described in DADS program (NOTE: this refers to eligibility

requirements for people under age 60. (This is not applicable. It contradicts (A) above)

(C) Before the first meal and every 12 months thereafter, a Nutrition Risk Assessment by a

service provider or staff person of AAA. This consists of a pre-printed form with health

questions marked and signed by the receiver of the meal. (DAH, give me my free meal)

The day that two of the WCWTP members visited the Hainesville congregate dining facility there were several new large vehicles parked out front which were newer and more costly than the WCWTP member's vehicle and inside were some Holly Lake Ranch residents. Additionally, it is a 36 mile round trip from Holly Lake Ranch. At 20 miles per gallon and $3.50 per gallon, if a single individual visits for a free lunch, it actually cost them $6.30 plus 50 minutes travel time and wear and tear on the vehicle. For less than $6.00 and 10 miles round trip they could purchase a lunch and in the process support a local business.

This summation and the effects on local businesses covers only the Holly Lake Ranch & Hawkins, Texas area. It is hoped that every community, city and county in Texas covered by the Council of Governments does it's research and makes the public aware of the dangers of the "Nanny State". Government cannot afford to be in the "Charity" business with taxpayer money. Charity needs to be handled by the local communities. The other programs handled by the ETCOG are assumed to be operating within the community according to their charter but will be reviewed at a later date.

Signed, Tim Discher, Founder, We the People of Wood County Texas