Local volunteers who drive for the Meals on Wheels program will be reimbursed for their 2004 mileage, according to Internal Revenue Service guidelines.
The Orion Township Board voted Sept. 20 to reimburse the drivers, per a recommendation from the Orion Senior Center Governing Board.
In 2002, the township reimbursed $7,017, when the reimbursement program was in effect for the whole year. The cost for the remainder of 2004 is $3,000, and the board voted to reimburse up to that amount.
Reimbursement in 2005, for the whole year, is estimated to cost about $9,000, and could be placed in the township’s budget.
Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said the township was told previously by the senior director in Rochester (at the Older Persons Commission, operator of Meals on Wheels) that the township couldn’t afford to reimburse drivers.
‘Then we found out other (communities) were,? he said. ‘So when we stopped it, it looked kind of bad.?
Clerk Jill Bastian said drivers should be reimbursed, if the people depending on the Meals on Wheels program weren’t going to be able to be served in any other way, and if the township could afford it.
‘My concern isn’t necessarily looking bad to our neighbors,? said trustee Michael Gingell. ‘If there’s a need and it’s legal for us to do it, we should.?
Township attorney Kristin Kolb said there was a statute that allowed for the appropriation of funds to an organization that provided service for citizens 60 years and older.
‘So if (the service) is for seniors, it is appropriate to reimburse mileage,? she said.
According to a memo from Orion Senior Center Director Mary lou Enneking, Meals on Wheels currently has about 30 drivers. Most deliver meals about one day a week, and about 40 or more homebound members of our community are provided meals daily.