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Belton shifts weekly senior transportation from OATS to city van after rate rise; city exploring larger lease option
Summary
After OATS contract rates increased, Belton began using a city minivan for weekly Tuesday/Friday senior transportation, expanded to four days in August, and is evaluating leasing a larger accessible vehicle with assistance from a $10,000 grant award.
Belton staff told the council Aug. 12 that the city has shifted weekly senior-center transportation away from OATS to a city-operated minivan after the OATS contract rate and the loss of a rural-grant subsidy made the service costlier.
City staff said the OATS contract for the weekly Tuesday and Friday runs previously cost about $76 an hour and rose to $80 an hour in the new fiscal contract. Over the past 12 months the city paid $23,248 for Tuesday/Friday OATS transportation and received $4,197 in grant reimbursement (roughly 18%).
Since the OATS contract expired July 1, senior-center staff Peggy and Russ have used a city minivan to pick up participants on Tuesdays and Fridays and—beginning the week of Aug. 1—added Wednesdays and Thursdays to establish four-day transportation. Staff said they make multiple trips on pickup days to accommodate limited van capacity, call riders in advance, assist riders into and out of the vehicle and coordinate schedules so participants arrive for center activities.
Mark Grant’s contract with the senior center includes up to $10,000 awarded to the city to offset weekly transportation. Staff said they have met with Enterprise Fleet about leasing a larger, more senior-friendly vehicle that would meet grant criteria and remain within budget. Staff noted OATS will still run the weekly shopping-day contract, a separate agreement.
Staff emphasized the change preserves service within budget constraints and that the city-built solution preserves continuity while staff assess longer-term leasing options.
Ending: Staff will continue to operate the weekly routes using the city van while evaluating lease options that meet grant requirements and rider needs; no formal ordinance or contract action was taken at the meeting.
