News File Photo Alcona County Commission on Aging Executive Director Lenny Avery works at his desk at the agency’s office in Lincoln in this October 2020 News file photo.

LINCOLN — Frustrated they cannot provide services to residents at Lincoln Manor because of a months-long bed bug infestation, staff at the Alcona County Commission on Aging have begun advocating to the state on behalf of seniors living at the facility.

The agency’s policy is to suspend services until notified by Prime Properties Management, owners of the Lincoln facility, that the infestation has been treated.

The agency was recently notified that the commons area and laundry facility in Lincoln Manor are bed bug-free, but agency Family Service Coordinator Debbie McKay said she could not get management to confirm whether the apartments are free of infestation.

The News could not reach Prime Properties Management for comment.

Commission on Aging Executive Director Lenny Avery said his team has reached out to state and local government officials, including District Health Department No. 2 and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

Avery said the issue has become a public health crisis. He noted most of the seniors at Lincoln Manor need the agency’s services — especially those who need chore services, like having their homes cleaned or who need help taking baths.

Avery said one client requires bathing services three times a week, but his staff has not performed those services in the last two months.

“I just believe that, now, it’s become a nuisance and a public health crisis for these individuals,” Avery said. “I believe that we have to, as an agency, put our finger on the scale on their side and alleviate some of the things and the problems they’re going through.”

In addition to concerns about senior health, Avery’s agency believes management at Prime Properties are now retaliating against a resident who first spoke to The News in August.

Ron Williams, who lives at Lincoln Manor, spoke to The News for a story about the bed bugs published on Aug. 12. He told The News he once had bed bugs in his apartment, but hadn’t seen them return since his apartment was sprayed for them.

A photo of Williams accompanying the story showed a pack of cigarettes on a side table next to his recliner. Williams, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is on oxygen.

The next day, facility management issued Williams a notice that he “willfully or negligently caused a serious and continuing health hazard to exist” because he was “found to be on oxygen/have oxygen in his unit and smoking.”

The notification asked him to either remove the health hazard or move out. If he didn’t comply within seven days, the notice said, Williams would be taken to court for eviction. He also has been told he owes $75 from three months of paying rent late — though he hasn’t been told in which months he was late and he said he’s always paid during a 10-day grace period.

Williams said he did not want to pay the late fees, because he does not know which months the late fees are being charged for, and because he does not yet know whether he is being evicted.

Williams is frustrated and said he has consulted an attorney.

“I just don’t understand what they’re going to do,” he said. “One minute, they’re going to evict me, and the next minute everything is fine.”

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.