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Montezuma County social services wins meat donation, secures transit grant and plans TripMaster launch
Summary
County social services reported a monthly donation of meat for senior meals, a transit grant award of $171,857.28 and plans to launch TripMaster software with an expected initial ridership bump of about 10%.
Montezuma County social services officials told the Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 26 that Rocky Mountain Meats will donate 25 pounds of meat each month to the county’s senior services program and has offered a reduced rate of $1.80 per pound for additional purchases.
The county’s social services representative, identified in the meeting transcript as Kelly, also announced that the department was formally awarded $171,857.28 through “53 11” funding the department applied for. “We were hoping to get that full amount,” Kelly said.
Kelly gave quarterly transit data for the county’s MoCo service for the second quarter: 2,319 unlinked passenger trips, about 24,000 revenue miles and 1,041 revenue hours. She said the department plans to implement TripMaster scheduling software this fall and expects to need about 60 days to transition and train staff before broader marketing. "I think 10% additional ridership's a fair estimate in the first quarter," Kelly said, adding her estimate was conservative and that same‑day trip capability could boost ridership further.
The department also reported senior-services activity for July: 1,705 meals (both congregate and home‑delivered), an average of 39 people served per day and a peak of 66 on a single day.
Kelly described an ongoing management evaluation that will require staff work over the summer and fall, with a review period expected to wrap up around Oct. 21 and subsequent time for responses and corrective actions. "We have to finish 15 different questionnaires over the next 6 weeks," Kelly said.
The Board approved the Social Services minutes for July 22, 2025, and payables for July in the amount stated at the meeting. The motion to approve was moved, seconded and carried with recorded “aye” votes.
Why it matters: The items affect day‑to‑day services for seniors and rural transit users in Montezuma County. The TripMaster rollout and the awarded transit funds could change scheduling flexibility and potential ridership growth, while the meat donation supplements the county’s food resources for senior meals programs.
Additional details: Kelly said the department averages underused vehicles and driver capacity that, combined with scheduling improvements, represent room for increased service. She said the TripMaster rollout would be followed by a publicity push starting about Jan. 1 after staff have trained on the platform and data have been migrated.
