County officials approve continuing aid for the Commission on Aging
The Isabella County Board of Commissioners go over the consent agenda to approve past meeting minutes of the month on April 21, 2026.
The Isabella County Board of Commissioners approved a senior millage renewal and Senior Project Fresh for the Commission on Aging (COA) on April 21. The millage funds 67% of the COA.
The commission provides services and care to Isabella County residents who are primarily 60 or older, Jennifer Crawford, the COA director, said.
The Commission on Aging has five main programs:
1. Food with friends provides in-person meals.
2. The Gold Key volunteer program lets people help out at the COA.
3. In-home program has one of three social workers go to the older person’s home to help determine what they need and to possibly refer them to other COA programs.
4. Foster Grandparent Senior Companion Program has foster grandparents volunteer at schools to help in the classroom.
5. The activities program provides a variety of recreational and social opportunities for older adults to get involved.
Crawford said the millage funds the majority of what the COA does. She said the funds support programs, services and staff to serve older adults in the county.
For every $1,000 taxable value, $1 goes to the COA. This millage will raise an estimated $2,829,633, according to Crawford’s Millage proposal.
The first millage was in 2006 and renewed in 2016. Crawford said voters will see it again at the same level for a 10-year renewal on the mid-term ballot.
Senior Project Fresh
The Board of Commissioners also approved the Memorandum of Understanding for the Senior Project Fresh (SPF) program. The memorandum lasts from May 1, 2026, and ends Nov. 1, 2031.
Crawford said it is a state program through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She said COA has been participating in the program since 2009 to help older citizens in the county buy fresh food.
County residents interested in the program must be 60 and older, Crawford said. If someone belongs to one of the federally recognized Tribes, they must be at least 55 years old. They must also be at or below 185% of the poverty level.
People who qualify get a coupon book with $25 worth of coupons to spend at local farmers' markets to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and honey, Crawford said.
Participants get one coupon book throughout the event to use from May 1 to Oct. 31.
It also benefits local farmers who get reimbursed through the program.
“It’s just a really fantastic program,” Crawford said.
Last year, registration for Senior Project Fresh was moved online. Crawford said that people who may struggle with electronic transition can come to COA for technical assistance.
Online registration can be done at Healthy Together. Instructions on how to register and other resources for SPF can be found at Michigan.gov.
Heartland Agreement
The commissioners also approved the Heartland Multi-County Materials Management Plan (MMP) to help manage materials, excess materials and waste in the counties.
The agreement combines eight counties: Isabella, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Mecosta, Midland, Ogemaw and Osceola.
The total cost is $339,232.00 and would cost $42,404.00 per county, according to the Resource Recycling Systems contract.
Brian Smith, county administrator, said having multiple counties will split up the costs. He said that there will be monthly payments that will be reimbursed.
