Archive
Minutes from last board meeting
Northeastern Colorado Transportation Authority
June 14th, 2006
A regularly scheduled meeting of the Northeastern Colorado Transportation Authority was held on Wednesday, June 14th, 2006 at the Logan County Human Service Building, 508 South 10th, in Sterling. Chairman Dean Wingfield called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.
Board members and alternates present included: Dennis Everhart, Bonnie Smith Moore, Marlene Miller, Dean Wingfield, Jack McLavey, Jerry Beavers, Jerry Kollman, David Foy and Mike Harms. Staff members present included: Larry Worth, Executive Director; Darlene Thorndyke, Operations Supervisor; Medicaid Broker, Karen King; Logan County Dispatcher and Healthride Coordinator, Betty Herzog; Operations Supervisor, Charlie Miner and Sandy Baker, Director for the Area Agency on Aging. Anne Brewster, Northeast Regional Director for Senator Wayne Allard was also present.
The minutes of the May 10th, 2006 were distributed in the packet. Jerry Beavers moved to approve the May 10th Meeting. Jerry Kollman seconded the motion to approve the minutes of May 10th. The motion was approved.
Executive Director, Larry Worth reviewed the financial statement through May 31st, 2006. Revenues through May 31st totaled $445,569.02. Expenditures for the year to date totaled $527,523.92 for operating deficit of $81,954.90. While the Section 5311 appropriation is $277,000, a total of $47,170 has been reimbursed to NECTA through May. The current operating deficit is being paid through of the fund balance of NECALG. If there was a call for repayment of the excess funds paid to Single Entry Point, Options for Long Term Care, NECTA would have to tap the line of credit with Wells Fargo. The line of credit with Wells Fargo is currently at a zero balance.
The preliminary worksheet for a revision of the 2006 budget was distributed to the Board of Directors. CDOT has indicated that revenue for FTA Section 5311 will increase from $277,000 to $312,000 in 2006. Contracts from CDOT for the increased financial support for operations and capital purchases should be distributed to the NECTA Board in July. The preliminary 2007 budget will be submitted to the NECALG Board of Directors on July 19th.
A correspondence to Tom Mauser, Multi-Modal Manager for CDOT was distributed to the Board of Directors. The two vehicles funded by FTA Section 5310 have been ordered through the CDOT procurement process with delivery of the vehicles expected prior to December 31st, 2006. The Daniels’ Fund will provide the local match for these vehicles.
NECALG proposes to purchase two Activans for non-emergent medical transportation with funding from FTA Section 5309. The Governor’s Rural Health Initiative will provide the local match for these vehicles.
Executive Director Larry Worth distributed information the 10% set-aside for transit required by SB-1. Revenue forecasts from the Joint Budget Committee and the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budget indicate that over the next five years the transfer of SB-1 funds will range from $65 million to $100 million for strategic projects for transit. The Task Force on 10% set-aside for transit is developing the guidelines for use of Senate Bill-1 funds and expects to release a call for projects by Friday, June 16th.
Larry Worth distributed a summary of the FTA Section 5309, Discretionary Funding from Congress for Bus and Bus Facilities. From 1998 through 2006, County Express has received $610,640 for the purchase of vehicles. The Colorado Transit Coalition and the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies have been very effective in securing discretionary funds for the purchase of vehicles for Northeastern Colorado. NECALG has also received an operating grant of $151,000 from the Job Access Reverse Commute Program through the CASTA application to Congress.
Fred Crawford moved to approve the financial statement from January through May 31, 2006. Jerry Beavers seconded the motion. The motion to approve the financial statement was approved.
Karen King distributed the operations report for May and noted ridership for each County. The total number of trips for May was 10,645. This is an increase of 1,296 over the number of trips in May 2005. There was a total of 70,896 miles driven in May. This is an increase of 6,938 miles over the 63,958 miles driven in May 2005. Hours of operation totaled 4,469 over May 2006. This is an increase of 6,938 hours of operation in May 2005. For the reporting period January to May, the total number of trips increased from 46,210 in 2005 to 54,757in 2006. Miles driven increased from 294,344 in 2005 to 347,054 in 2006; hours increased from 18,815 in 2005 to 122,064.
In May, Prairie Express provided 628 trips on the fixed route system in Sterling. County Express drove 5,411 miles and operated 516 hours to provide this service to City of Sterling Logan County.
It was noted that the report on non-emergent medical trips reimbursed by Medicaid was included in the packet. From July 1st, 2005 through May 31st, 2006, County Express has received $210,539.76 from Medicaid for reimbursement of transportation for eligible. This total includes the mileage reimbursement paid to family members to transport a client to medical facilities. The Non-Emergent Medical Transportation Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, June 30th at the Logan County Human Services Building, 508 South 10th in Sterling to review a draft “white paper” on Non-Emergent Medical Transportation developed for the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies.
Logan County Dispatcher, Betty Herzog, distributed the monthly summary for Healthride. From January to May 2006, County Express has made 657 trips and transported 1067 clients to Banner Health Hospital facilities. Banner Health has been billed $32,548.64 for Healthride. County Express has driven 84,660 miles and operated 1,694 hours to provide this service.
Jack McLavey moved to approve the operations report. Mike Harms seconded the motion. The motion was approved.
Operations Supervisor, Darlene Thorndyke, reviewed the marketing plan for the balance of the year. County Express has reprinted the refrigerator magnets and other collateral material and has included the County Express website on all marketing material. The County Fairs will be the primary focus of the transit system in July and August. Between July and December 2006, County Express will focus on the Integrated Human Service Transportation Plan and the Transit Component of the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan.
Executive Director Larry Worth reviewed the amendments to the 2006 budget. CDOT has indicated that there will be an increase in Section 5311 funding for operation of the transit system and an increase in 5310 funding fore capital equipment. A contract amendment for the 2006 budget and the preliminary 2007 budget will be reviewed at the July Board meeting.
Operations Supervisors Darlene Thorndyke and Charlie Miner reviewed the training they received at the CASTA conference in May. With the passage of SAFETEA-LU, there will be an increase in federal money for public transportation, but there will also be an increase in the federal regulations that the local transit agencies must comply with. The integrated Human Service Transportation Plan is one example of new programs and regulations. Other issues include the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program and expanded programs and requirements for serving elderly and handicapped clients.
Darlene Thorndyke noted that letters of appreciation were included in the packet. Dashabout Shuttle has created a Limited Liability Corporation operating in the City of Wray and serving the surrounding area. Complaints from the Senior Coordinators regarding a recent trip to Denver has been discussed with the driver of one of the buses all of the dispatchers in Logan and Morgan Counties to avoid a repeat of buses from two different Counties transporting clients to the same location in Denver.
Since there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Smith Moore
Secretary
Archived Minutes
February 8, 2006
January 11, 2006
November 9, 2005
September 14, 2005
August 10, 2005
July 13, 2005