Saline County Commissioners voiced concerns about meal service quality at the Senior Center during Tuesday's commission meeting, following an anonymous email complaint received by the commission.
Commissioner Hay brought up the issue during the commissioner comments portion of the meeting, stating that he had previously voiced concerns about the situation.
"I don't think that her [Rosie Walter, Senior Services Executive Director] staff or her should have to step behind the counter and help serve meals and do the work that we actually contracted that company to do," Commissioner Hay said.
Hay emphasized that the contracted food service company needs to address several issues, including their menus, food quality, and staffing shortages.
"We just can't keep on going on and on and having Rosie and having our Meals on Wheels director serving meals behind that when we're paying that company to do that type of work," Hay added.
Commissioner Grevas concurred with these concerns, mentioning that while the commission had previously discussed the issue with Rosie, who had indicated the situation was improving, recent observations suggested otherwise.
"A couple of weeks ago, it hadn't got any better. I mean, I actually witnessed our people serving meals behind [the counter]," Hay confirmed.
Commissioner Shadwick asked if the county has recourse through financial means, "We have the ability to withhold pay for them, don't we?" County Administrator Philip Smith-Hanes affirmed this possibility as a potential solution if staffing issues continue.
The commission did not take formal action on the matter during Tuesday's meeting.
