Warren County Commission approves EcoRide bus contract amid driver insurance and pay concerns

The Warren County Commission voted to award the county's school bus contract to EcoRide following a lengthy public discussion about employee insurance access and pay for veteran drivers.

Commissioners opened the discussion after a motion to approve the contract. Several members pressed staff and the vendor on whether EcoRide would provide insurance to part-time employees and how the company would handle wages for long-tenured drivers.

Curt, a county staff member who addressed commissioners during the discussion, said EcoRide would set a minimum wage of $22 an hour for drivers and had put in writing a proposal to grant an additional 2% raise for each decade of service to recognize veteran drivers. "The scale for the drivers is going from current rate to a minimum of $22 an hour," Curt said. "EcoRide accepted that and communicated that to us in writing." (Curt is identified in the meeting record as the county staffer who spoke to contract details.)

A commissioner who raised concerns about insurance for employees asked, "I just want to know how many commissioners knew that if we switch from Durham to Eco that Eco wouldn't be able to provide insurance for the employees." County staff and other commissioners responded that EcoRide offered insurance for full-time employees and that part-time workers would have access to the public insurance marketplace; staff framed that arrangement as different from Durham's plan but not an absolute removal of coverage options.

Commissioners also noted the vendor had met with drivers and county representatives during contract review. Several members praised outside review and follow-up meetings with employees and the vendor, while others emphasized the difficulty of the decision and the trade-offs involved in continuing or changing operators.

On the roll call, commissioners recorded 21 votes in favor and one abstention; the meeting record states the contract "passes." The abstention was recorded by a commissioner who cited a relationship with Durham and Lifewise, and no further formal challenges were lodged at the meeting.

The commission approved the motion and directed staff to finalize the contract documents. The change in vendor is expected to take effect according to the contract schedule and subject to standard implementation steps by county staff and the winning vendor.