Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners designate Lifetime Resources as county public transportation provider and approve resolution to seek state grant
Summary
The Dearborn County commissioners approved Resolution 2025-001 designating Lifetime Resources as the county’s public transportation provider and authorized the agency to submit a CY 2026 grant application that would fund roughly half of operating costs under the federal/state rural transit program.
The Dearborn County commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 2025-001, authorizing Lifetime Resources to be designated as the county’s public transportation provider and to submit a CY 2026 grant application under the rural public transportation program that helps fund non-emergency and general-purpose trips.
Erin Thomas, executive director of Lifetime Resources, told the commissioners the agency operates the Catch-A-Ride program, which provided nearly 50,000 trips last year across the agency’s service area and about 16,000 trips for Dearborn County residents. Thomas said the program handles both general-purpose rides and non-emergency medical transportation billed to insurance programs; the program has historically applied for a Section 5311 rural public transportation grant that provides approximately 50 percent of operational funding and requires a local match.
Thomas said Lifetime Resources has previously applied through a pass-through entity (Historic Hoosier Hills) but will be able to apply directly for the CY 2026 grant. She asked the commissioners to sign the county resolution that local public-transportation providers must have on file to apply for that funding. Commissioners approved the resolution by voice vote and signed two copies—one for the county and one for Lifetime Resources—so the applicant could meet the application deadline. Thomas also asked the commissioners to help publicize local driver openings and said the program’s starting wage is approximately $14 per hour.
Why it matters
The designation allows Lifetime Resources to apply directly for the rural public-transportation grant that supports operating costs. If the grant is awarded at or near prior-year levels, the grant would cover roughly half of the program’s eligible operating costs and require the agency and/or county to supply the required local match through fares, local contributions or other sources. The agency said it will return later in the year to request any county match appropriation required by the grant award.
Quotes
“This is public transportation. It’s available to anyone for any purpose,” Erin Thomas said, describing the Catch-A-Ride service and the need to file the resolution so Lifetime Resources can apply directly for CY 2026 funding.
Next steps
Lifetime Resources will submit the CY 2026 grant application with the county resolution attached; if the grant is awarded the agency and the county will follow budget-appropriation steps for any required local match and operating funds.
