Collinsville Township Prepares To Open Senior Center

By Stephanie Malench

smalench@timestribunenews.com

The Collinsville Township Board Of Trustees started their second meeting of the year on February 9 with yet another moment of silence for a deceased board member followed by a memorial donation and appointment of a new trustee.

Trustee Mike Foley passed away unexpectedly on February 4 at his home. A memorial was made in his name to KAHOK Strong. The Foley family recommended Ashley Stewart be appointed to fill Foley’s seat since she is running for the Township board in April.

The board also approved Jeffrey A. Summers be re-appointed to a three-year term as Trustee of the Maryville Fire Protection District. Summers is currently serving as secretary after being appointed to fill the vacancy of Don Hendrick.

During reports by officers, Trustee Derrick Cox reported that since the Illinois Department on Aging and the Illinois Department of Public Health cleared St. John’s Community Care Adult Care Services in Collinsville and Edwardsville to reopen to the public on March 1 the Senior Center should also reopen on March 1. Cox also stated that it is time to start having the board meetings in the Senior Center next month.

Trustee Rob Milam also commented it is time to open the Senior Center back up as long as everyone wears a mask and has their temperature checked. Those that pass a temperature check would get an arm band for the day.

Next was approval of bills. Cox asked if the $10,000 payment for legal services was for the hearings contesting nominating paperwork of several candidates for the April 6 election.

Supervisor Dan Hopkins reported at the end of the meeting that Discovery Church is using the Senior Center as a warming center during the extreme cold since it has a back up generator, which kicked on twice during the night of February 9. The Township office is also fielding a large number of energy assistance application requests and calls asking about the COVID-19 vaccine.