Soaring fuel prices and its ripple-effect on the rest of the economy is claiming some of its first  casaualties — Burnett County senior citizens and shut-ins.

Effective Sept. 1, the county's aging department will be closing each of the four nutrition sites one day a week.

"It was difficult, but we did it," health and human services committee chairman Chris Sybers told the rest of the county board Thursday.

Sybers said the decision, based on high fuel prices, was difficult and involved many hours of discussion amongst committee members.

"It's our responsibility to come up with the most efficient way to use taxpayer dollars," Aging Director Lois Taylor agreed. "The committee pondered long and hard on this."

"It's not like they are trying to balance a budget on the backs of our senior citizens," she said of the decision.

"The sites, at Webster, Siren, A&H and Grantsburg won't be closed the same day of the week," Sybers explained. "So if the Webster nutrition site was closed, the Webster seniors could still go for lunch in Siren, A&H or Grantsburg."

Taylor said the cost of food is up, plus the delivery costs.

"Every time a food truck stops at one of the nutrition sites, it's an extra charge," she said.

In addition, the home delivery of meals is being reduced from fives times a week to three times a week.

"They are still getting their meals," Sybers was quick to point out. "But our drivers will just go out three days a week instead of five."

On Mondays and Wednesdays recipients will get two meals, a fresh one for those days and a frozen meal for Tuesday and Thursday. Friday will remain the same.

"For some of our clients, that daily meal delivery is the only human contact they get — and that means a lot," Taylor said. "In some cases, it may mean more than the meal itself."

Sybers said the moves are expected to save about $37,000 in 2009.

"If gas prices keep coming down, we might have to look at this again," Taylor concluded.

Sybers said groups like the Interfaith Caregivers and area churches have already inquired as to how they can help.