Adams County Transit reports rising ridership, grant applications and recall impact on fleet

Adams County Transit reported higher ridership, an ongoing fundraising campaign for a memorial courtyard and active grant work while also notifying commissioners that two transit vans are affected by a manufacturer airbag recall. Transit director Michelle (last name not specified in the transcript) said quarter-two NDOT reimbursement paperwork was submitted and that the claim is about $38,000; she said that brings the agency to about $76,000 of $100,000 in claims processed so far this year (transcript phrasing). She told commissioners she had applied for a larger NDOT grant that, if approved, would include what she described as "$250" from federal funds and "41" from state funds in the transcript (she characterized the award as not yet official).

The transit director also said she had turned in a separate $190,000 grant request to rehabilitate a courtyard at the Merit Center and that the transit program needs to fund half the project (about $95,000) from local donations and fundraising; she said she had raised about $10,000 so far and more than 30 donors had contributed at varying levels. She reported ridership increases across student and adult trips and said agency staff are fully staffed and operating eight vehicles with 11 part-time drivers; all eight vehicles are ADA-equipped.

On the recall, she said two vans (Chrysler models) are affected and that parts are not yet available; she warned that driving a vehicle on a recall could risk funding. Commissioners and staff offered outreach assistance and publicity to support fundraising and grant awareness.

Ending: The transit director asked for continued support; commissioners offered to help publicize the fundraising and to monitor the recall and grant approvals. No formal county funding decisions for transit were made at the meeting.