A new spot for Butler County’s Area Agency on Aging has at long last been identified.

The decision — reported in Wednesday’s issue of the Butler Eagle — comes in a way that seems likely to better replace the agency’s existing location for the long term.

Though overdue for a new location, the agency wasn’t looking for a “Band-Aid” space, director Beth Herold had previously said. She described intentions to find a newer, more modern and easily accessible workspace, but not one that would be only marginally better.

At a Tuesday meeting, Butler County commissioner Leslie Osche detailed how the Area Agency on Aging’s advisory board had come to a conclusion.

It’s worth noting that not one person alone came to the decision.

The board, agency staff and others with a stake toured four locations, which they would rate with a score sheet.

The group considered factors like access to public transportation, parking, walk-up access, high visibility, space for a senior center, long-term possibilities and cost.

Ultimately, the group concluded the Butler Health and Racquet Club on North Duffy Road in Butler Township was the best fit — with the highest score — when considering all factors.

Other places toured included St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church hall on Center Avenue in Butler, offices in the ground level of the Tier Garage in Butler and the YWCA in Butler.

This decision could be finalized as soon as Wednesday when the commissioners are set to vote on the purchase of the building.

The space needs work and will cost money, but the county would own this space, which would not have been the situation with other options. For this particular space, a ramped entrance, elevator, additional windows, new paving in the parking lot and other work will be added. The benefit to owning the property, of course, is that the money is being put into a space that belongs to the county.

The advisory board has settled on the space. The board voted unanimously to recommend the commissioners purchase the building, which is listed at $899,000.

As for the current office space at the Sunnyview complex, it’s deteriorating and just not usable anymore. Workers there have highlighted as problems a backed-up sewer system that prevents some of them from using some restrooms and the presence of mold and rodents.

The larger issue though was how clients have been adversely affected at the current space.

In an earlier news story, it was noted that a woman using a walker and oxygen had difficulty using a ramp to the door of the Area Agency on Aging. By the time a maintenance worker helped her there, she was out of breath and in need of water.

The time for a new space is now. Let’s see that it happens for our senior citizens.

— TAL