Don’t sweat the Small stuff

Lake City Center director leaves with pride over teamwork, improvements

COEUR d’ALENE — When Bob Small came on board as the new director of the Lake City Center, he knew there would be challenges.

The number of challenges, however, might have been a bit more than expected.

A lot more.

“What I started to discover was the lack of maintenance,” he said Thursday as he sat in his office, the voice of Johnny Cash playing in the background. “It’s been one pitfall after another after another after another.”

To prove his point, he notes that this past week, the phone system went down temporarily and power was lost to half the building.

“It’s because, over the years, there hasn’t been the necessary maintenance,” he said.

Small is leaving the post after 2 1/2 years and is moving to Edmonton, Alberta. Deciding to go, he said, was a “very tough” decision.

“My whole life, I love challenges and I love helping other people,” he said. “Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the benefits of helping others.”

Marlys Silva, administrative assistant, has been named the interim director.

“She is one smart person and she has the perfect personality,” Small said. “Everybody loves her.”

Small, who also worked six years with the Area Agency on Aging of North Idaho, considers the Lake City Center the “crown jewel of North Idaho.”

It’s safe, clean, bright and has plenty of parking.

An estimated 1,200 to 1,500 people, mostly seniors, use the center weekly for activities like line dancing, pool, cards and lunch.

As Small departs, he believes it is in sound shape.

“I’m very proud of that,” he said, quickly adding that credit goes to the team at the center, not him.

“People are not working here because of the money. They’re working here because that’s their commitment to the community. And they have pride in serving our seniors,” Small said.

Because of a ruptured Achilles tendon, Small’s right lower leg and foot are encased in a protective boot.

It’s not as painful as it was a few days ago.

“Today, it’s much better,” he said.

It doesn’t stop him from walking his two dogs, Cheyenne and Smokey, who joined him in his office.

He laughs and shakes his head when asked if being director of the center was more demanding than he expected.

“Oh, absolutely. But it was fun because I love challenges,” he said.

He got them.

Shortly after he started, he learned there was just several hundred dollars in the center’s checking account. He also learned some employees — about eight full and part time — were earning in the $8 an hour range.

“I thought, ‘This has to change,’” he said.

It did, with wages up 40 percent across the board.

To stabilize finances, Small held fundraisers and put on more events that required a fee to attend, and promoted rental of the center.

“It was a matter of letting people know it was a great place,” he said.

What he couldn’t control was the building’s physical condition.

“Every day, it seemed like something would go wrong,” he said.

Since taking over as director, plenty of repairs and replacements were made, including:

• 3 air conditioners.

• 4 furnaces.

• 1 gas range.

• A main freezer and refrigerator

• The bathrooms were remodeled to make them more accessible, with touchless devices.

• New paint, curtains, kitchen counters, outside gutters and drainage.

• A major project was replacing and leveling the floor.

The funds sometimes came from grants — Small is an experienced grant writer.

But what turned out to be critical, he said, was letting the community know when the center needed help.

“The response has been overwhelming,” he said. “Every obstacle we’ve faced, the community has come to our aid.”

“People came through,” he added.

And it’s the people Small will miss most.

“It’s a friendly place,” he said. “My love for Lake City Center will never waver. I’ll come back here and visit. Anyway I can help, I’ll help.”

As Small moves to Canada — he has dual citizenship — one might think he would relax, rest, retire.

But no.

“I might start a senior volunteer program,” he said with a big smile.