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Hardin County approves veterans transport driver; officials outline federal onboarding, demand for trips
Summary
Hardin County approved Gerald Ekelberry as a driver for its veterans transport service and heard that federal onboarding (background check, federal ID, medical) can take about three months; officials said a donor will cover the van lease and the program logged multiple trips last month.
Hardin County officials voted to appoint Gerald Ekelberry as a driver for the county veterans transport service after the Hardin County Veterans Affairs Commission recommended the appointment.
Janetta (identified in the record as Unidentified Speaker 4) told the board the federal onboarding process for drivers includes a background check, issuance of a federal identification card and a medical screening, and that it can take about three months to complete. She also said a donor has agreed to pay the van lease, which officials described as important as the service remains in frequent use. "Last month, we had 14 rides in our BTS van and then 4 in our old van yet," she said.
Officials described the program's operating model: under the veterans transport arrangement noted in the meeting, the program covers the vehicle lease while riders contribute for fuel and maintenance, and maintenance must be performed by in-network providers the program uses. Janetta said drivers must have a clean driving record and that wheelchair-capable trips are handled by dispatching an appropriately equipped vehicle from Des Moines when needed.
The board moved to approve the appointment (motion by Unidentified Speaker 2; seconded by Unidentified Speaker 3) and approved it by voice vote.
Next steps: the driver will need to complete the federal onboarding steps described in the meeting before being cleared to drive for the veterans transport service.
