The History of Eagle Community and Senior Center

Eagle Senior Citizens Inc. (ESC) is a private non-profit formed and certified by the Secretary of State on August 28, 1987. Most people in the community refer to our organization and the “Senior Center” not any different than a company doing business as (DBA).

During the 1980s a group of business leaders and citizens started a fundraising effort to build a community and senior center to benefit the community. Wayne Crosby and a host of others formed a committee to raise enough money to construct the community and senior center. The committee raised $185,000 to build the center. When construction was almost complete, and the committee needed approximately $40,000 more to complete the project, several community members signed a personal note with Idaho First Bank for $40,000 to complete the project. The project was completed in 1988 when City Hall and the ESC moved into the building with ESC occupying the largest portion of the building.

The land was donated by Leona and C.L. House in March 1975 for the purpose of building a city hall and senior center for the Eagle community. It was obvious that the two users of the building were distinct and different. ESC and the city co-occupied the building which was divided into two sections with two mailing addresses and two utility meters. 310 State Street was the section used for City Hall and 312 State Street was the section used for the ESC, with both sections having their own entrances. The ESC section was the larger of the two sections including a commercial kitchen.

Although the land was donated to the city, there was a stipulation that the city must build a city hall within 15 years. The building would not have been built without the fundraising efforts by business leaders and community members. Some committee and community members believe that the city did not contribute financially to the project. The land was a gift and fundraising paid for the building.

The deed for the property was in the name of the City of Eagle, however, some committee members and elected officials during that time believed that the city was only holding the property in trust for the ESC. The building was paid for by community leaders and citizens, not the city.

Since 1988, for a period of 35 years, the ESC has paid $1.00 per year for the lease. In 2006 when a new City Hall was built and leased from the Hawkins Company, the entire Community and Senior Center building was turned over to ESC. ESC at its own expense and with community donations remodeled the building to its current standard. Also, during that time several members donated items to the ESC including 2 pool tables, a piano, a sound system, clothing and other items sold in our boutique.

Former Mayors Steve Guerber. Nancy Merrill and Jim Reynolds all signed long-term leases with ESC. A newspaper article dated November 17, 2006, covers the renovation of the building by the ESC at their expense including some items donated to ESC and donor names.

The termination of lease started with the Eagle City Council agenda dated February 14, 2023, which stated, “Action regarding continuation or termination of the lease agreement between the City of Eagle and the Eagle Senior Citizens Inc. (a Non-Profit). (JWP)”

ESC learned about this action four days prior to the meeting when the agenda was published. Many seniors attended the meeting and testified against the termination action. Several years remained on the lease. The termination vote was 4-0 to terminate the lease “without cause”.

However, the discussion regarding the lease by Mayor Pierce and Council members was centered around financial issues and a tort claim filed by a person’s family who was injured and later passed away from his injuries. The person riding the Valley Regional Transit (VRT) van was not a member of ESC and was being transported by a VRT bus for medical treatment.

The City’s discussion was kicked off by Council Member Helen Russell stating that, “she became Eagle’s liaison to VRT last year and that led her to begin attending Eagle Senior Center meetings.” Ms. Russell was a board member of VRT, however, there was no connection or logical reason for her to interfere with ESC, a private organization. This is government overreach by an elected official.

To date, ESC has not been questioned about the tort claim and has learned that the claim will be pursued through VRT's insurance company. ESC was also told by VRT staff that their insurance carrier "strongly recommended" that VRT take over contracts for other senior centers and providers; however, ESC has not seen anything in writing to back this statement. In the end, ESC senior citizens had their transportation services reduced when VRT terminated ESC’s contract and entered into a new contract with the City of Eagle.

Ms. Russell began writing to organizations that ESC had partnered with for years, including VRT, Meals on Wheels and others, stating that she was a liaison from the City to ESC. She was not the liaison; Council member Brad Pike was the liaison. Ms. Russell made statements regarding the ESC’s finances that were false. Mayor Pierce also made statements regarding the Tort claim that it could impact the long-term financial stability of the Eagle Senior Center. The real issue here is that the city was trying to take over a private non-profit organization that had functioned very well for 35 years. Again, government interference.

One final statement regarding finances, the Eagle Senior Citizens has maintained bank balances of well over $100,000.00 for years. Ms. Russell's statements about our finances are incorrect. The accounting firm whom Ms. Russell hired without board approval stated that some of the documents presented to the board were done by Ms. Russell and not the accounting firm.

Later at a town hall meeting to discuss Eagle Senior Citizens Inc. and how the “City” could do what ESC does better, Mayor Pierce again stated that the lease was terminated without cause but continued to make statements that the ESC was in financial trouble. He again discussed the tort claim, but failed to mention that the City of Eagle was also named in the tort claim.

At the same meeting Mayor Pierce also stated that Meals-on-Wheels had contacted the city and was willing to start providing meals five days a week. What we learned from Meals-on-Wheels was that Council Member Russell had been communicating with Grant Jones, the executive director, regarding ESC’s operation. When Mr. Jones learned of the lease termination, he called Ms. Russell but she did not return his call. He was contacted by the Parks and Recreation Director and was told that services would continue as usual. Providing meals five days a week was discussed but not feasible.

Meals-on-Wheels has a contract with Eagle Senior Citizens Inc. and not the City of Eagle. Again, an interference by Council Member Russell in the operations of ESC.

On February 17, 2023, Mayor Pierce issued a newsletter “From the Mayor’s Desk” stating many of the same topics he and Council Member Russell discussed regarding the ESC’s operation regarding finances and a tort claim. Again, the lease was terminated without cause and the statements they were making were false.

Four months have passed, and we have relocated to the Eagle Hills Church at 651 N Eagle Rd, Eagle, ID. Seniors have suffered disruptions and degradation of services that resulted from the City of Eagle’s termination of the Senior Center lease with ESC as well as government overreach and interference. Despite Mayor Pierce and the Council, we have managed to keep our remaining contracts with partners and are committed to the continuation of important services for Eagle Seniors.