| Perrysburg transit options debated |
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| Written by PETER KUEBECK Sentinel Staff Writer |
| Wednesday, 08 August 2012 09:53 |
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PERRYSBURG - The choice of which firm may provide public transit service to the city next year remains up in the air. Following a special meeting Tuesday of the Health, Sanitation and Public Utilities Committee of city council, members clarified their selection process and heard briefly from prospective providers, but did not offer a recommendation for council to consider at its next meeting. A further meeting on the matter is scheduled for next week. A recommendation is expected to be forthcoming in time for council's Aug. 21 meeting. "The idea was not to select one tonight," said member John Kevern early in the meeting. TARTA service in the city, which was voted out in March, will end on Sept. 22. The move prompted the city to seek proposals from alternative transit firms. Six proposals were received, with two - one from MV, a Texas-based firm, and a second from Black and White, based in Toledo - emerging as clear frontrunners. At the July 31 meeting of council, members were prepared to vote on a measure that would have authorized the city to enter into negotiations with MV, but that legislation was tabled and the matter sent back to the committee for further deliberation. "There wasn't any consensus on the provider from council as a whole," said member Tim McCarthy at Tuesday's meeting. Some on council at the July 31 meeting had additionally expressed their interest in supporting a firm that is based locally. The city has already voted to place a five-year, 1.45-mill levy on the November ballot to pay for transit service, generating approximately $825,000 per year, or $44 in taxes annually on a $100,000 home. Procedure for how to move forward in judging each proposal and make a final decision for the consideration of council constituted the first 40 minutes of the meeting Tuesday. Concerns regarding service that would be available after TARTA leaves, and how the expected transit "gap" would be paid for until a new transportation system is put in place, were brought up by audience members. Representatives from MV and two other contenders, TLC Transportation and Ride Right, were present at the meeting and were initially to be allowed to speak. There appeared to be some misunderstanding as to whether firms were to have been invited to Tuesday's meeting. Two representative of TLC did offer a few comments, noting their ADA-compliant services, but acknowledged that their pricing was on the higher end of the spectrum. They asked for an interview with council to discuss their proposal anew. McCarthy asked that a second meeting be planned for the top four bidders to appear and answer a series of pre-determined questions. It was decided that those four proposing firms - MV, Black and White, Ride Right and La Fleur - could be invited to another meeting Aug. 16 at 3 p.m. Representatives present from Ride Right and MV were then permitted to make a few comments on their own service to help generate ideas for the meeting next week. In other business, the committee approved a letter addressed to TARTA's policy committee seeking its consideration of a connection route with Levis Commons. A previous request from the city for a form of ADA service had reportedly drawn concern from TARTA over legal concerns. "There is some hard feelings between Perrysburg and TARTA, I believe," said Kevin Rantanen, the city's representative to the TARTA board. |
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