[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6202275,"mediaKeyId","3787528-7fc7d683f9999c0dcc79dbf1b28f7e83","parentId",3787528,"title","Dunn County Transit restructures, Austin to oversee facilities and transit operations","audioSeconds",65,"startMs",1126000,"endMs",1191000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787528-7fc7d683f9999c0dcc79dbf1b28f7e83&start=1126&end=1191","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787528-7fc7d683f9999c0dcc79dbf1b28f7e83/thumbnail_1126000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6202275/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/Dunn-County-Transit-restructures-Austin-to-oversee-facilities-and-transit-operations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202275-bf5435d17742e9c2ae9b215e93401f58/orig.mp4?Expires=1770720426&Signature=ohgKb5M00Vhjgmg0z0jWR~bcBoGcPWxtcubHqtV7yORL3uV4jTg2tvbMzMfJLxVo85thVp3ZecExICMmqt3mYe8Zh~kbR8ybkAlOfQZ-7HEXd5NITKSRUrEiZ5WgYHO~wV3QlNl8zmMBcjh707lW8iZua-Ff2mQ4splQGfcrV~Qxkynv4OeyzANq~5aFRjU3ieA-SMym8LlpNWDiunNlTD2V6xGXNt13U9X-sLkl7s0BuKYNhgs5VZROnPJJ0~bLcuz6lgr5NTyQ8phIq7d~AgGH4LAwj-hZmS2eIC6TxYwNB0NeBga29SgrrrvLLp4rWVsVP94QYjopnq-zoPdszQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dunn County, WI","date","2025-06-13T00:37:12.69Z","article","Dunn County Transit announced on June 11 that facilities director Scott Nabafelt had left earlier in the month to take a facilities director role in Chippewa County and that the agency plans a management restructure to fill the gap.

A county staff member told the board that the vacancy creates an opportunity to consolidate oversight. “We have been negotiating with Austin to take over as our facilities and transit facilities, parks, and transit director,” the staff member said, adding the county will create a middle layer of management with an operations manager in transit and a lead operations role in facilities so Austin can oversee both departments.

The staff member said the change is intended to create efficiencies and growth opportunities and that the transition will begin around June 23. Austin’s background was described as business management with a construction emphasis from Stout and subsequent operational experience; staff said that background will inform facilities oversight. Austin acknowledged he still drives service at times and that the reorganization will reduce hands‑on driving assignments for leadership.

Why it matters: the shift consolidates responsibility for transit operations and facilities under one supervisor, changing reporting lines and creating new lead roles. The board did not take a formal vote; staff presented the reorganization as a personnel and operational change and said more details on hiring for the new lead roles will come as recruitment proceeds.

Next steps: staff said they will post and recruit for the newly created lead roles and will provide updates to the board on staffing and operations. No formal personnel action or employment contract changes were recorded in the June 11 discussion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Dunn County Transit Committee - 06/11/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Following the departure of facilities director Scott Nabafelt, Dunn County Transit announced a staffing reorganization that assigns Austin oversight of both facilities and transit, adds an operations lead in transit and a facilities lead, and creates a middle management layer.","taxTitle","Dunn County, Wisconsin","taxId",53943,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6202281,"Dunn County Transit delays electric bus rollout; solar charging grant on hold",289,1261000,1550000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787528-7fc7d683f9999c0dcc79dbf1b28f7e83&start=1261&end=1550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787528-7fc7d683f9999c0dcc79dbf1b28f7e83/thumbnail_1261000.jpg","/articles/6202281/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/Dunn-County-Transit-delays-electric-bus-rollout-solar-charging-grant-on-hold","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202281-dd332238ac6c7adf77273b0a297780f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770720426&Signature=JpcU-iGhjkN8fnz9HMOgjpAjix2DQnlNUM15MW-ryW217N5M~bRmTOLdvNa0u35YKDcpJ4IhsrE2KAi~9zTnIn61b-pZQKTWNQG2W~msU5hNiciPsCIOdftDV1CD4bEc6NU77QbWpUT9Uz2Op7bpk6xX3ZuTCy0XLWHfoeI7bh1-YO5aSXuyKtzQfQ9EhOtgvRm1NcnQKBYY~i4APqNGHT0neST2KDXpF5to5G17LH4Nz7nrFtYWEJ6vyh-OHJjFpQtnCVtZjoEtZ6j5m41Db8tx3OH5q9opzLJkzJxocUW2Z6FMfAuRUAMUnJJ5PQ-xiya9rR~cjJkGEVk4IeezmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dunn County Transit told the board on June 11 that the agency is still working through procurement and coordination problems tied to electric buses and charging infrastructure, and that a previously awarded solar grant of roughly $160,000 has not been advanced.

Transit staff member Austin said the county has reached out repeatedly to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) but has not received recent responses. “I reached out to WisDOT on the they haven't answered an email since November,” Austin said, and later explained the procurement lead who had shepherded the file since 2018 retired, leaving current WisDOT contacts less familiar with the project details.

Because of the delay, staff said they applied last December for a conventional small gas bus to address fleet aging and that agencies have not yet been awarded vehicles for the year. Austin said he also applied for a new onboard camera system and is awaiting award notification.

On charging and solar infrastructure, staff described a previously revoked grant and a separate $160,000 grant the county is carrying forward on the capital side. Staff said the original grant envisioned rooftop panels without battery storage; to use solar effectively with electric buses they would want panels plus storage so buses charge at night and energy is not simply sold back to the grid. “Originally, when this was set up as a grant, it was just panels, not like a battery harnessing system,” Austin said. He added that the county is holding funds in reserve while electric bus technology and costs change: “That would just with the upside of solar by keeping them in the bank because their prices have gone down and the water just go up.”

Staff reported fleet lifecycle numbers: one vehicle’s expected shelf life is about 200,000 miles (approximately seven years), and two other buses show odometer readings around 115,000–126,000 miles. Staff said they are trying to avoid a situation in which multiple buses reach end‑of‑life before replacements arrive and are evaluating conventional gas buses as an interim solution.

No formal decisions or votes were taken on procurement at the June 11 meeting. Staff said they would continue coordination with WisDOT, follow up with peer agencies that operate similar vehicles, and report progress at future meetings.","Staff reported ongoing delays and coordination issues with WisDOT on electric bus procurement and said a $160,000 solar grant remains inactive; staff continue to seek temporary conventional buses and camera system upgrades pending awards.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6202286,"Dunn County Transit expands rural pickup, offers free rides funded by ADRC through yearend",281,48000,329000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787528-7fc7d683f9999c0dcc79dbf1b28f7e83&start=48&end=329","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787528-7fc7d683f9999c0dcc79dbf1b28f7e83/thumbnail_48000.jpg","/articles/6202286/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/Dunn-County-Transit-expands-rural-pickup-offers-free-rides-funded-by-ADRC-through-yearend","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202286-fec3811d4aa54d8e3b98bc0aebb6ba33/orig.mp4?Expires=1770720426&Signature=PTDDebtL5q4FSJ3BYYOKyVNyDR9yLIi8XZo94yWJ66xM5Kd5hCUK5TIY-DEYM0hANbx42j25H7TObmy-e-SC7cRurdAVx72id5hsVjnqCmbF5IuZXEl3im3jALjv5MmeYMlp9e3wMQRN6Xp6ERXZ4GOjxoXnDG6gaFVcVSgPS1-PoLPMbUq5yuFWEpintxQT11BCocTTXulkLdGzzEr3hIvbrVUrxlNabBL8OFp7wJ2RdTf-gbqXwN46ZomMU3BoPknhom6KwKnYdf9QHvnwdxDz9ntKdeZ2VkHd4CXnIDVHmjkpw4eAGLC5URp2O8icn5eYPVx8VuPL79Vdy7C5Zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dunn County Transit reported on June 11 that recent route changes implemented on June 2 have improved on-time service and produced higher ridership on community routes, and that an ADRC-funded rural pickup pilot will provide free rides for eligible riders likely through the end of 2025.

The report, delivered by transit staff member Austin, said systemwide finances were “coming in around 1900 to the good right now,” and that the service’s highest ridership comes from the door‑to‑door and community routes. “And then the ridership mostly comes from the doorstop and community route,” Austin said, adding that community ridership had its best May on record and that the scout route recorded the best May as well.

Why it matters: the rural pickup pilot expands access for residents outside town and reduces cost barriers for medical or essential trips. Austin told the board the pilot is being funded with money ADRC allocated for the project and that staff estimate the funding could support “about 200 round trips” through the end of the year if usage remains low to moderate. “It’s gonna be free rides, through the summer, most likely through the end of the year,” he said.

Most of the discussion described how the rural pickup will be scheduled and promoted. Staff said the service will operate as a demand‑response program: the county is only charged when a trip is actually provided. “I’m assuming that no riders means no cost because it’s not like we run the bus on a route if nobody’s there,” one participant observed; Austin confirmed trips trigger payment only when executed. Staff noted early sign-ups have been slow but steady, and that promotion included Facebook posts, local newspapers, municipal email lists managed by ADRC, and a small paid social boost.

The transit team also described specific route changes intended to improve reliability and convenience. The community route was adjusted to stop at the Dunn County Government Center every hour and to add a stop at the UW library at 30 minutes after the hour in addition to the top of the hour; the Clock Tower stop remains. Austin said moving the CVTC bus shelter and eliminating a figure‑8 maneuver have made the route more efficient and increased midday availability. He reported personally driving a community run and dropping off four to five riders in a single morning after the change.

Staff presented ridership metrics meant to show usage relative to student enrollment. Using a multi‑year comparison (excluding spring 2020), staff reported an average of about 12 rides per student post‑COVID and noted recent months were 12–36% above that average. Austin cautioned that some ridership figures were pulled from Google and may be estimates rather than final agency counts.

Staff and board members discussed options to expand connections to regional providers such as Eau Claire and Mayo Clinic shuttles, and noted constraints where out‑of‑county trips require coordination or partnerships. One commenter who identified herself as Julian Alokhazy, an assistant city manager in Eureka, California, praised the trial and encouraged continued experimentation with rural transit links.

Staff recommended continued outreach (including bulletin postings at churches and local partners) and monitoring of demand to consider modest expansion if call volume and schedule capacity allow. The board did not take a formal vote on service expansion at the June 11 meeting; the presentation concluded with staff noting they will continue to monitor ridership and funding and provide updates at future meetings.

The transit team also stated that contracted services (Stealth) and the city subsidy provide periodic payments—Stealth twice yearly, city subsidy quarterly—and that the door‑to‑door service produces the bulk of fare revenue.

Less critical details: staff said some drivers work part time seasonally and that summer patterns vary; staff also raised the idea of linking rural one‑way trips to Eau Claire transit for onward travel. The board scheduled its next meeting for July 9.","Dunn County Transit reported route and schedule changes after June 2 adjustments, a free rural pickup program funded by ADRC that staff estimate could cover roughly 200 round trips through year-end, and rising ridership on community and campus routes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Dunn County Transit restructures, Austin to oversee facilities and transit operations

Dunn County Transit delays electric bus rollout; solar charging grant on hold

Dunn County Transit expands rural pickup, offers free rides funded by ADRC through yearend