By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Plans – and hopes – for a courtyard for senior citizens at the MERIT Center were detailed for Decatur’s board and works and safety at a recent meeting.
Michelle Lengerich, director of the Adams County Council on Aging, appeared before the board and, after fleshing out details, asked for and was given permission to continue with upgrades at the courtyard.
The city owns the building, the former Northwest Elementary School, and several years ago entered into a 20-year lease with the council on aging for use of space there.
Lengerich talked about plans for a rehab of the center’s courtyard – detailed in an earlier story on WZBD.com – and her intention to seek a $100,000, 50/50 grant from the Indiana United Way.
Lengerich said that organization is hesitant to award such a grant since the building is government-owned (City of Decatur) and not a non-profit.
United Way offered some suggestions which could be made in the lease with the city, she continued. Those will be brought to the board of works at a later date if the grant can be approved.
The area of the courtyard was cleaned up by volunteers last October. Since that time, access from the building to the courtyard has been established.
Lengerich also explained how the courtyard, once completed, will be known as the Braun Myers Courtyard and Gardens in honor of two former Northwest School students, Matthew Braun and Jaden Myers.
Jaden was 10 years old when he passed away in February of 2017. Matthew died in May of 1987, struck by a car while riding his bicycle.
“I think that is a great use of that space (courtyard). Michelle is doing a wonderful job with the center,” Mayor Dan Rickord said.
