 The current 15-passenger van was purchased in 2001, using grant
money from the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs as well
as private grant funds.Dom Dalpoas, Oasis director, admitted that
looking for any grant money from the state this time is unrealistic,
given their current fiscal state of affairs.
With that in mind, a committee has been formed to look into ways
to be able to buy a new state-of-the-art van that carries a $50,000
price tag.
Dalpoas, along with Oasis board member Dennis Schrader, went over
the improved features a new van would have.
Besides a safer wheelchair lift, the van also has a back-door
camera to allow the driver to see directly behind the vehicle. The
seats also have a reclining feature, and there is overhead storage
that the old van doesn't have.
The Oasis uses the van for day trips as well as vacation trips,
and although many members have used the van multiple times for such
trips, the total usage is 7,000 riders during the past decade.
The reasons for seeking a new van now are numerous: First,
technology has made handicapped-accessible vans safer and more
user-friendly. The current van is beginning to need repair work that
has totaled almost $4,000, and a new van won't carry those repair
costs. The old van will eventually need to be replaced, and costs
for these specialized vehicles continue to rise, so a new van today
will cost less than a new one a few years from now.
[to top of second column]
 |
Dalpoas said the old van wasn't perceived as having any real
trade-in value, so The Oasis will see what agencies in the area
could use the vehicle and attempt to make a deal with them that is
beneficial to both parties.
The committee will meet again to decide a plan of action in
regard to fundraising, which will include seeking private grants. As
plans are solidified for the drive to get the wheels rolling on a
new Oasis bus, the board will notify the public how they can help.
[Text from file received; LDN]
 |
