OTTUMWA —
After months of debate, the 28E agreement between the 10 member counties of 10-15 Transit has been finalized.
Mahaska County Supervisor Ken Rozenboom and Lucas County Supervisor Dennis Smith were unable to attend the 10-15 Transit Advisory Board meeting Thursday, but Ottumwa City Attorney Joni Keith said they can sign the documents at a later date.
Keith said she will file the agreement with the Iowa Secretary of State’s office, and each county will record a copy in their respective auditor’s office.
The supervisors voted to reevaluate the agreement after Lee County pulled out of 10-15, declaring that the person who signed the agreement in 2004 was not authorized to do so.
With the loss of Lee County, Ottumwa Transit Executive Director Diane Gawronski said she is looking for ways to make up for ridership lost. 10-15 Transit recently added a Fairfield Hy-Vee shopping shuttle.
Gawronski said she has reached out to Maharishi Vedic City Mayor Bob Wynne to see if the town needs service. She has also received a request from Wayne County for a shopping shuttle to the Walmart in Centerville since Pamida closed.
It has been a year since 10-15 Transit began repaying approximately $423,000 to the Iowa Department of Transportation following an investigation of charter and ridership violations at Ottumwa Transit Authority and 10-15 Transit.
Ottumwa Finance Director Bob Jay said he was pleased to see that 10-15’s revenues were higher than expected. Year-to-date, 10-15 Transit is in the black by more than $30,000, whereas at this time last year, the agency was in debt by more than $315,000.
“We’re tickled pink when all the numbers were finally crunched and put into place,” Jay said.
The board also approved a contract between 10-15 Transit and SIEDA Head Start for Van Buren and Keokuk Counties and a contract between 10-15 Transit and SCICAP for Monroe and Lucas counties.
SIEDA Head Start is a program for low-income and disabled children ages 3-5. Legally, the buses must be open to the public, Keith said.
Jefferson County Supervisor Lee Dimmitt said he heard from IDOT that 10-15 was allowed to provide exclusive service to Head Start.
“I, for one, do not think we need to be transporting the public on Head Start buses, period, end of discussion,” Dimmitt said. “The point is they’re 3 to 4 years old, and we don’t know who’s getting on those buses. I think we need to get that clarification.”
Operations Manager Dave Silverio said he’s never heard of the general public riding Head Start buses.
“The public would have to call 24 hours in advance and schedule a ride on a Head Start bus,” Keith said. “The buses do not stop along the street. But we can’t refuse them [the general public] if there’s room on the bus.”
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