MOUNT VERNON — Just more than $1.2 million in senior levy funds will help fund services and programs for Knox County seniors.
Knox County commissioners accepted the recommendations of the Senior Levy Advisory Board on Thursday and approved funding for 10 organizations that fight food insecurity, increase socialization opportunities, and encourage aging in place.
Before making their recommendations, board members visited the agencies that applied.
“We just saw a lot of good things happening. I think this levy serves a purpose, no question about that,” board chair Dan Humphrey told the commissioners.
Board member Denny Dugan agreed.
“We’ve got some really, really good organizations. They do a lot of work for the community,” he said.
The senior levy generates roughly $1.2 million.
Knox County Job & Family Services received $125,000 for its adult protective services program through the District 5 Area on Aging.
Nine organizations account for the remaining levy dollars.
Meeting seniors’ needs in the home
Don York moved to Mount Vernon from Portsmouth about five years ago. He joined the senior levy board to see what was going on.
“It is very impressive,” he said. “I think the most impressive are the [programs] that go out and actually deal with senior adults in their home.”
Knox Health Planning uses its levy dollars to hire a home-visit nurse who does wellness checks. The agency also provides handicap equipment if needed.
“They do an outstanding job that we saw of just meeting the needs of people in the home,” Humphrey said.
“A lot of what we saw in community services in particular, they were trying to keep the citizens in the home as long as possible. We appreciated that.”
The Station Break (serving the entire county), Centerburg (three townships), and The Sanctuary (Danville area) have Meals on Wheels programs.
“The big thing about the Meals on Wheels is, yes, the food is one thing, but that wellness check — just stopping in, making acquaintance with the people — that was very much appreciated by the recipients of the food,” Humphrey said.
Community support for ‘the little things’
Humphrey noted the community support for the senior citizen centers, with businesses and organizations providing food for events.
Board member David Bouchard said it boils down to “all the little things that you don’t even think about.”
He cited a local car repair shop in Centerburg that gave a presentation to the seniors and asked if anyone had a problem. Now, shop employees visit the center once a week, checking tire pressure in the seniors’ cars while they play Bingo, euchre, or eat lunch.
“That is community involvement. It was really, really neat to see something that we take it for granted: to bend over, to put air in the tire, check it, which they can’t do,” he said.
Commissioner Barry Lester thanked the board for visiting the agencies and becoming involved.
“We said earlier your job is to vet and recommend us so that we don’t have to do this. That sure takes a load off the commissioners, which is greatly appreciated,” he said.
Board member Steve Thompson appreciates the opportunity to participate.
“It was an eye opener for me, all the agencies that are out there, to evaluate,” he said. “I also appreciate [Commissioner] Bill Pursel for opening my eyes to this. This was a great opportunity, to work with this team.”
The levy funds organizations that provide services to Knox County residents 60 and older. In 2025, the advisory board tightened the application requirements.
Agencies must apply for $10,000 or more. Capital improvement requests, such as flooring or equipment, are not eligible.
Agencies must prove they serve Knox County residents, that they are over 60, and that they help seniors stay independent.
Legislative action includes supporting capital budget projects
Also on Thursday, the commissioners awarded the bid to resurface the Kokosing Gap Trail to Small’s Asphalt Paving for $929,941.35.
Three other companies submitted bids:
•Albatross Asphalt, $1,196,741.75
•Kokosing, $955,601.45
•Park Enterprise Construction, $1,532,055.09
The commissioners recently took the following additional actions:
•Approved salt brine applications from United Aggregates.
•Approved contracts with Knox Public Health, Village of Fredericktown, and Fredericktown Community Joint Ambulance District for IT services.
•Acknowledged the annexation request for 56.618 acres from Hilliar Township to the Village of Centerburg.
•Approved letter of support to Rep. Beth Lear and Sen. Andrew Brenner for a capital budget community project grant for the Heart of Ohio Trail.
•Appointed Mallory Poole as clerk/administrative assistant and Penny Doyle as deputy clerk for the Board of Knox County Commissioners.
•Added Knox Public Health’s electric utilities to the county’s aggregation program.
•Approved letter of support for the Knox County Airport Authority to apply for a capital budget grant to construct an aviation maintenance facility.