The building where the Agency on Aging prepares and serves food for the Meals on Wheels program has numerous safety hazards, Flathead County Agency on Aging Director Lisa Sheppard told the Area IX Advisory Council on Aging at its Thursday meeting.

In the meeting packet, she provided a memorandum she wrote to County Administrator Mike Pence with a long list of safety concerns at the rented Kelly Road building.

“We needed to make sure folks knew what’s going on out there because it is a big risk — if not to the county, certainly to us,” Sheppard told the advisory council members.

She said in her memo that the new building at the fairgrounds recently proposed to commissioners would eliminate the 10 major areas of safety concern that she outlined. They are:

n Slips and falls from traveling an icy area of 50 feet from the kitchen to outside refrigerator/freezer units. Sheppard noted that the county had to pay out $13,000 for a worker’s compensation claim after an employee was injured pushing a cart between the building and outside units.

n Tripping and electrical hazards from multiple extension cords running under mats in the food service area because of inadequate electrical system. A volunteer tripped recently and had bruising.

n Health inspection deficiencies from a concrete kitchen floor that needs painting and sealing.

n Potential food-borne illness and inventory loss from no climate control in the commodities storage area. Temperatures have exceeded the recommended 50-to 70-degree range in the storage area for food used in meals programs.

n Food contamination and injuries because staff and seniors must walk through the food storage area to reach information and assistance offices.

n Slip and fall hazards from snow and ice tracked into the building, making hard-surface floors slippery and from tripping on rugs taped to the floor to mitigate the snow and ice.

n Blocked emergency evacuation routes with the walkway through the dining room blocked by the serving line at meal times.

n Sheets of show and ice falling from the roof near people and cars.

n Slip and fall hazards from icing in the parking lot from inadequate drainage outside and flooding in several areas of the building during heavy rains. One office has flooded multiple times, requiring wooden blocks under file cabinets and other fixtures to prevent more damage.

n Explosion potential from the building filling up at night with natural gas when a pilot light on the commercial stove goes out due to a draft. This has occurred on a number of occasions. The stove can’t be moved, and the door is needed to load and unload heavy items.

Sheppard said in the memo that she compiled the list from observation, staff interviews, incident reports, review of regulations and in consultation with a loss-control manager for Western States Insurance.

In response, Pence toured the building, looking at problem areas as part of his executive risk management committee.

Afterward, the committee sent county commissioners a memo that said Sheppard had validated each issue and attempted to mitigate some concerns but most involve major and expensive building modifications. Along with Pence, the committee includes Tammy Skramovsky, human resources officer, and David Prunty, public works director.

In conclusion, the members recommended that commissioners make a full site inspection at the earliest possible date.

“We are confident that you will reach the same conclusion of the Executive Risk Management Committee that a new location is necessary for the Agency on Aging department to continue to provide essential services in a safe and efficient manner,” their memo said.

The new location refers to the proposal presented at an October county commissioners’ meeting to build a new metal building on the north end of the county fairgrounds with an option to house the Agency on Aging, Kalispell Senior Center and Extension Service offices. The option would cost about $1.8 million but nearly equals the 50-year cost of renting the Kelly Road building, Sandy Carlson, county finance director, said at the time.

Sheppard told the advisory council she has spoken individually to commissioners about functional deficiencies with the Kelly Road building.

“The building prohibits us from providing services we would like to provide, and it’s difficult for us to provide the services we are already providing,” she said.

Sheppard also gave testimony about the need for a new building along with several others at a December community needs public hearing. The hearing is required prior to applying for the city’s $450,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant money for projects benefiting low and moderate income residents.

Sheppard spoke with Debbie Pierson, the county’s grant writer, Thursday morning.

“She said that we might really want to consider putting our hat in the ring for the CDBG money,” Sheppard said.

She acknowledged that the grant money would not cover the full cost but added this program requires a match. Also, this grant cycle goes through the city of Kalispell, which would require support from the City Council.

The application is due in April and awarded in the fall.

“We are just trying to get good information out there about what our needs are,” Sheppard said. “We’re looking at all the possibilities.”

Advisory commission member Doug Gilbertson said the agency has outgrown what was a temporary location. He also mentioned the safety concerns.

“It’s time to bite the bullet and move on,” he said.

Jim Pearson, president of the Kalispell Senior Center board, said a new building would help attract younger seniors with energy that his organization needs. Dodie Wise, an advocate for seniors, said a new building would allow the agency and seniors to hold fundraisers to help pay for additional services.

Agreeing with Wise, Sheppard said the purpose of moving is to provide more and better services.

“How are we going to meet the need we know is coming?” she asked. “In fact, it’s already at our door.”

Commissioner Gary Krueger, a member of the AOA advisory council, and Commissioner Cal Scott attended the Thursday meeting. Neither directly addressed the new building need except to acknowledge the issue is slated for discussion at a commissioner retreat scheduled for Thursday.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.