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Butler County splits Senior Center and Rural Transit into separate departments, authorizes modest budget increase
Summary
HR Director Aida Hickman and county staff persuaded the board to approve separating Senior Center and Rural Transit into two departments with individual directors; the change raises the Senior Center budget by about $13,000 annually and passed 5–1 with Supervisor Scott Griess opposed.
The Butler County Board voted April 20 to restructure the Senior Center and Rural Transit program into two separate departments, each with its own director, to improve services and rural reach.
HR Director Aida Hickman told the board the previous director split time 80/20 between Senior Center and Rural Transit and the assistant split time 70/30; she said the split left Rural Transit short on drivers and caused service denials to seniors living outside David City. County Clerk Lori Aschoff and County Treasurer Karey Adamy reviewed budgets and YDT expenditures. Hickman said the proposed reorganization would increase the Senior Center budget roughly $13,000 annually but that she expected the center to close the gap through fundraising and grants; she characterized Rural Transit as self-sustaining. Supervisor Scot Bauer and others supported the change; Supervisor Scott Griess said the program may be better handled by a private entity. The motion to separate the departments passed 5–1, with Griess voting no.
Why this matters: seniors make up about 25% of Butler County’s population and the board cited improved access to rides and meal delivery—especially for residents outside David City—as the rationale for committing additional county support.
Next steps: county staff will implement the new organizational structure, fill director roles and monitor service changes and funding sources.
