Commission delays action on Parker Senior Center

The Linn County Commission has delayed signing a 99-year lease with the city of Parker that would turn the Parker Senior Center over to the city. Under the lease it will still be used as a polling place. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com

MOUND CITY – On Monday, June 2, the Linn County commissioners did not take any action on completing a contract to lease the Parker Senior Center to the city of Parker. The lease turns over control of the Parker Senior City to the city for 99 years for a dollar.

Commissioner Alison Hamilton repeated her concerns from last week about the direction of the county in general on all county buildings. The decision to lease the building was made in 2024 before Hamilton took office, and the Parker City Council did not take any action on lease sent by the county last fall until last month.

Earlier this spring Parker council member Kandice Higgins asked to delay decision on leasing the building before the costs of maintaining it could be discussed in a budget meeting. That meeting didn't happen, but the council voted at its May meeting to sign the lease.

Last week, Hamilton had questioned whether the county had done everything possible to make the senior congregate meal site at Parker successful. 

Hamilton asked county counselor Jacklyn Paletta how easy it would be to get out of the contract if the commissioners changed their minds about leasing the building.

Linn County Clerk Danielle Souza said that Paletta had assured Hamilton that there are “easy out” clauses that allow the county the opportunity to be released from the lease.

Souza, at the request of Paletta, will investigate what other county buildings have leases and their terms for the Monday, June 9, meeting.