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Price County Transportation Coordinating Committee Minutes Date: April 6, 2026 Time: 1:00 p.m. Place: Courthouse County Board Room 101; 126 Cherry St; Phillips, WI 54555 Call to Order: Meeting called to order by Patricia Stephan, Committee Chair. Roll Call Members Present: Kris Mabie, Jason McMillan, Sarah Reese-Socha, Pam Snyder, Marty Stephan, Patricia Stephan, Nick Trimner, Dixie Weidman Also Present: Paula Houdek, County Supervisor; Pat Daoust, Bay Area Rural Transport (BART) Manager Items for Discussion and Possible Action 1. Public Comment and Communications: None. 2. Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 Motion Weideman/McMillan to approve the August 18, 2025, meeting minutes. Motion carried. 3. Committee Membership a. Re-Appoint terms expiring 4/30/2026: (Jason McMillan, 1 st term expiring; Patricia Stephan, 2 nd term expiring; Marty Stephan, 2nd term expiring) Three term limit. Motion Weideman/McMillian to approve the reappointment of all three (3) members. Motion carried. b. Open Seat – Northern Area, Consumer/Agency Advocate Motion Susan Stanke (consumer advocate) Motion Weideman/McMillian to accept the appointment of S usan Stanke to the Transportation Coordination Committee. Motion carried. 4. Funding Sources a. Butternut: Town of B utternut is not a funding source this year . Butternut invited representatives from the TCC Committee to come back in June to discuss additional funding, which would be before their town budgeting planning. b. Fifield: Town of Fifield contributed $1,500 in 2026 to BART, which helps offset the County’s portion. 5. Route Reports: a. Park Falls Transit: The Park Falls Transit reports from 2020 through 2026 were presented and are on file. Ridership in 2026 in Park Falls averages between 700 to 800 rides monthly. b. Phillips Transit: The Phillips Transit reports from 2020 through 2026 were presented and are on file. Ridership in 2026 in Phillips averages about 400 rides monthly, down from 2025. The goal is between 500 and 600 rides monthly. c. Minocqua Transit: The Minocqua Transit reports from 2020 through 2026 were presented and are on file. Monthly ridership in 2026 is at a proficient level in Minoqua and the route is utilized to transport many dialysis and other patients are transported to receive medical care. 6. Program Reports a. Fares and Hours of Operation: There is no need to change the fares or hours of operation, and they have been the same since BART has operated in Price County. Veteran’s will continue to ride for free, and children ages 17 and under will ride for free in the summer. Children under the age of 6 must be accompanied by a responsible party. b. Budget and Funding: BART receives fuel discounts from suppliers in different counties. In Price County, there is an agreement with Kwik Trip in Phillips for a fuel discount. $3.60 is the budgeted fuel price cap. Price County has cut communication with the company from whom they planned to purchase the electric bus for BART services. Two other companies have been communicating with Price; one has given a presentation, and the second will present in the near future. Discussion on proficiency of maintaining heating for electric bus passengers in the winter months. Further discussion on purchasing a gasoline powered, low-floor model of bus for ease of use for handicapped passengers, at an estimated cost of $300,000. A model without a low floor is roughly $229,000. Discussion also on cost of charging an electric bus and how that compares to fuel costs. 7. Next meeting: May 18, 2026 8. Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 1:31 p.m. by Patricia Stephan, Committee Chairperson. Respectfully Submitted by Meredith Hueckman, County Clerk