|
 On the issue of public transportation, Committee Chairman Jan
Schumacher began by giving the committee information about Showbus,
a transport company that has been in central Illinois since 1979.
Schumacher said that Logan County chose not to work with them
previously, but that with the transportation situation, and the
strain on finances and resources, she is now wanting to look at
these other options.
Schumacher noted several advantages of Showbus, such as dealing with
grants and an ability to grow the Logan County program, plus after
initial costs, they would not ask the board for money. Schumacher
asserted that the board might consider working with Showbus, rather
than Community Action, and that she and Pam Meagher had talked with
Alison Rumler-Gomez earlier in the day so that Community Action is
not "blindsided."
Rumler-Gomez told the committee that Community Action is still
committed to being operators, but acknowledged the many challenges
in the past year. She said that there was nothing on this
piece of paper [Showbus's] that she could not do and probably do
better for Logan County and suggested that that some of the problem
has possibly been a "communication gap."
 Rumler-Gomez said that Community Action is "good at this" and by
looking at what they have done over the last couple years, one would
see that in the last fiscal year "total transports have increased by
2,000 rides."
She felt that the ridership and how they had to report with Area
Agency for Aging may not tell the whole story. Though Community
Action did not report any of the senior transportation expenses for
the first quarter of fiscal year 2014-2015, they have not only
increased ridership, they have studied what their operational
expenses are.
Rumler-Gomez also said that the safety record is nearly spotless and
that they have great driver retention. She believes they are primed
to move in the right direction; there is financial stability and the
relationship is better. She said many financial issues have been
resolved and her agency is growing; she is committed to bringing
services the county needs.
Kevin Bateman expressed concern about the high cost of $3.08 per
mile. He asserted that he runs a large van fleet that runs 500 miles
a day per van at $1.00 a mile, so he feels that cost seems
"outrageously high." Meagher said that reports from agencies across
the state show that Logan County's costs per trip average $20.42 per
trip, but they are in the ballpark of other counties. Meagher said
that her biggest concern is the local matched dollars and feels we
should use more than senior transport money for the local match.
Rumler-Gomez said that the local match is part of it, but
acknowledged that she does not know if that is where the focus has
been.
She said that with staff members, they look at key performance
indicators and prioritize certain indicators each quarter. They also
have been working to increase contracts. She feels that other
providers will still have problems.
Rumler-Gomez believes she has developed a good relationship with the
board and does not want to "abandon ship." She explained that if
there needs to be a focus on reducing the cost per mile, it is
important to understand that the substantial increase has to do with
not putting the senior transportation expenses in their reports.
Rumler-Gomez said that they could shift the focus.
Schaffenacker then asked if they are currently operating
transportation or if it suspended?
Rumler-Gomez said She clarified that the public transportation is
still suspended, but they have had to lift the suspension for their
senior transport and critical medical patients. She said that the
agency has repaired busses and raised $12,000 to honor grant
obligations with the Area Agency for Aging until the end of the
month.
 Rumler-Gomez said that if the board should choose to go with Showbus,
she would really need to know by October 1.
Chuck Ruben asked about the effects if the board went with Showbus?
Rumler-Gomez replied that it would cause a pinch because about
$86,000 total in cost allocation would need to redistributed
affecting the administrative side.
Schumacher asked if the allocation of the grant money has been
approved by IDOT? Rumler Gomez explained that the allocation is
submitted to all the funding sources and cost allocation is an
indirect formula.
Ruben asked if the county has contacted Mason County since the
transportation grant is for services in Logan and Mason County, but
Meagher explained that the intergovernmental agreement gives Logan
County the decision making power.
Schaffenacker said he would like to see Showbus and Community Action
provide a cost per mile for the past two years. Bateman said that if
there were big difference in the cost, he would want to know why.
Rumler-Gomez agreed that it is important to look hard at costs,
especially if another place is doing it at a much lower cost. She
would bring documents showing operation costs.
Schumacher said the board will have further discussion on Thursday.
Ruben asked if the October 1st grant is a year grant, and Rumler-Gomez
said that it is.
She ended by saying that her agency is still committed to doing a
good job and hopes to still earn the county's business.
[to top of second column] |
Wind farm offers academic funding
Schumacher discussed the Relight Scholarship that she and Board Chairman David
Hepler had worked on, handing out a list of the criteria.
Schumacher noted that demonstrated financial need is preferred, but not
required. She pointed out that one criteria is 50 hours of community service
completed over a four year period, but noted that if a student is not looking at
the scholarship until junior or senior year, it might be better if it were
changed to 20 hours of community service.
When discussing the lack of a significant criminal record, questions arose.
Aylesworth asked what defines a significant criminal record? He suggested it may
need to be considered on a case by case basis.
For the 90 percent attendance criteria, Ruben inquired about possible health
exclusions if the student is still able to keep up and wondered if extenuating
circumstances could be considered.
Andy Anderson asked whether those in the Lincoln Challenge Academy would receive
top priority over one who has always done well and has been a model citizen and
Schumacher suggested the one who is a model citizen may be eligible for other
scholarships and would not likely be the ones applying. Schumacher said the
scholarship could be life changing for some of the students.
Emily Davenport asked if there would be a cap amount for parents' salaries and
Schumacher said she would look at FAFSA. Davenport thought families with a lower
income should get preferred treatment.
Davenport also suggested the students could explain their "life changes" in a
paragraph. Schumacher said it could be written in answer to a question such as
"Is there anything we should know about you?" Kevin Bateman suggested it could
go under a heading "Please tell us about yourself."
Hepler said that money could be used for a blend of scholarships and local
building projects or programs at the discretion of the HCC Foundation
administration.
Schumacher said they are researching the needs in Logan County as far as
programs, such as more community education.
Bateman that he would want it said that any expansions would be done within
Logan County. Schumacher said that Heartland is giving the board some of the
discretion for the use of the money and Heartland is also doing a study.
Hepler suggested the board adopt a document requiring allocation for 40 full
scholarships for 20 students with any recovered dollars (unused scholarships)
allowed to be used for capital improvements.
Ruben made a motion that the county figure out money expenditures after hearing
a presentation by Heartland on Thursday.
Other old business
Bateman said that there is a group still interested in having a remote control
airplane event at the airport and they want to know some dates, possible costs
for use of the airport, any feasibility issues, what areas they could use at the
airport, whether the county takes a cut of the profit, and what facilities are
available to them He said the remote control clubs are looking to grow it to a
national size event. The committee discussed some possible dates, but did not
decide. Anderson suggested they call the group about picking a date.
In an update on the county website, Schumacher reported that on the home page
she has been working on trying to make it user friendly and attempting create a
background behind a box. Bateman suggested that tourism photos like the Atlanta
water tower, the bridge at Elkhart, the covered wagon, and "Bob's curve" barn on
Fifth Street would make a nice background. Blankenship said he would like to see
photos that are "family related" or show emergency services, festivals, various
schools, or sporting events.
Under new business, Schumacher asked about moving Michelle Barr into the
position that will be open in the board administrative office when Pam Meagher
leaves in mid-October, which means the Executive Committee would need to present
Barr for the position. Her duties and the salary would be brought before the
board for discussion.
The next Executive Committee meeting will be October 13, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.
[Angela Reiners]
Past related articles
08/21/2015 -
Lack of state budget threatens imminent shutdown of Logan
County Public Transportation System
06/01/2015 -
Logan County Public Transportation looking to grow |
