Transportation

Transportation Coordination Committee Meeting Public Hearing for 85.21 Specialized Grant Application 2025 December 10, 2024 Multi-Purpose Room Agendas announcing the Transportation Hearing were posted at the Taylor County Commission on Aging Office, and Taylor County Courthouse. Notification of the Hearing was also provided to WIGM/WKEB radio station and published in the Medford Star News on November 28, 2024. Chairperson Mike Bub called the meeting to order at 11:03 AM. Members Present: Mike Bub, Rod Adams, Lisa Carbaugh Members Absent: None Also Present: Jenn Viergutz and Barbara Koch, Taylor County Commission on Aging ; Amber Fallos, Black River Industries Approve Minutes of the November 2, 2023 Meeting MOTION by Carbaugh to approve the November 2, 2023 meeting minutes as presented, second by Adams. All Ayes. MOTION CARRIED. Approve Agenda MOTION by Adams to approve the agenda with 9 items for the December 10, 2024 meeting, second by Carbaugh. All Ayes. MOTION CARRIED. Public Input None Reports Taylor County Commission on Aging Viergutz stated that ridership is going well and no issues with the transportation services. She stated we would like to see an increase in the number of patrons using the bus service. One of the goals for the Three-Year Aging Plan (2025 -2027) is to promote marketing to address transportation needs in rural Taylor County. To that end, the Supporting Healthy Aging Grant will also assist with some strategies in January, February, and March 2025. Viergutz and Fallos will collaborate on this effort. Viergutz stated the monthly bus trip to the casinos is going well, needing to take two buses at times to accommodate the riders. It has also helped us reach riders who have not used our transportation services previously. Fallos and Bub provided information about transportation needs vs stigma in community and how services are perceived Viergutz also stated that we will be looking into marketing for volunteer drivers as our pool of drivers is continuing to decrease. Black River Industries (BRI) Fallos stated that ridership is going well. BRI will be selling their CDL buses as they are finding it more difficult to obtain drivers. She stated they still have 11 buses, which will be just fine. A discussion ensued about transportation needs in the county and perceptions of the community. Also, many people just don’t know what services Taylor County provides. Taylor County Veterans Service Office No one present Medford Taxi No one present Others None MOTION by Adams to award the Minibus Service Contract to Black River Industries ; second by Carbaugh. All Ayes. Motion Carried. One (1) full bid was received. Fallos explained the current contract was a flat rate bid that had the mileage and hourly rate lumped together. The new contract has both an hourly rate and a mileage rate ($24.53/hr and $.95/mile, respectively). This rate is the fairest for all involved. Funds for our transportation program come from the s.85.21 grant we receive from the Department of Transportation. Director Viergutz provided a written copy and reviewed the s.85.21 specialized transportation grant application for 20 25. The grant application request is for $79,889 in transportation funds from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. A match of $ 15,978 in local funds is budgeted and used as the local share required match. Motion by Carbaugh to approve s.85.21 Specialized Transportation Grant Application for 202 5; Seconded by Adams. All Ayes. Motion Carried. The next meeting of the Taylor County Transportation Coordination Committee will be scheduled as needed. MOTION by Carbaugh to adjourn meeting, second by Adams. All Ayes. MOTION CARRIED. The meeting adjourned at 11:35 AM. Barbara Koch, Secretary Jenn Viergutz, Director