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Dooly County greenlights third‑party operator to consolidate transit services
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Summary
The county voted to accept Resource Management Services as the third‑party operator to consolidate city and county transit programs; Dooly County will act as subrecipient with limited direct operating liability and cover vehicle insurance costs estimated at $6,000 per year.
Dooly County commissioners voted to accept a proposal from Resource Management Services (RMS) to administer consolidated public transit services for county and participating cities, the county administrator said.
At a Feb. 2 meeting the board heard from Susan Arnett of DCUTS and Tim Pinson of RMS. RMS proposed to serve as the third‑party administrator for the county's Section 5311 federally supported rural transit program and to take over third‑party administration for the City of Vienna and Unadilla once the cities' contracts end. RMS said the company would assume most operating costs; the county would act as a subcontractor with the Georgia Department of Transportation and would be responsible primarily for vehicle insurance (RMS estimated about $6,000 per year).
Board action and review: Commissioners approved moving forward with RMS subject to review and approval of contract language by County Attorney Bill NeSmith and a required public bidding/advertising period. During subsequent meetings the board formalized the agreement: on June 7 the board accepted the contract after negotiating language (one commissioner abstained due to a conflict of interest). The board also adopted a Drug and Alcohol policy required by GDOT for transit employees.
Context and implications: Section 5311 transit funding requires an administrative structure and a compliant drug/alcohol testing policy for drivers. RMS' offer transferred day‑to‑day operations and payroll to the company while leaving the county as the official subrecipient for grant administration. The arrangement is intended to preserve service continuity while limiting the county's administrative burden.
Next steps: The board directed the county attorney to review contractual details and executed a service agreement with RMS; staff will advertise contract terms and manage required state grant paperwork and compliance checks.
Speakers present during discussion included Susan Arnett (DCUTS), Tim Pinson (RMS) and Administrator Stephen C. Sanders; County Attorney William NeSmith advised on contract review and compliance.