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Adams County on Aging reports sharp ridership gains, wins $6,000 local contribution from Burn City Council
Summary
Adams County on Aging told the Burn City Council its public-transportation service has grown rapidly — trips up ~62% and staff from seven to 18 — and the council approved a $6,000 local contribution to support a federal-state grant match; the presenter also mentioned a separate $2,500 Geneva request.
Adams County on Aging representatives reported rapid growth in the agency’s public transportation program and persuaded the Burn City Council to approve a local contribution to help meet grant-matching requirements.
Michelle Langri, representing Adams County on Aging, told the council the agency has expanded service hours since 2024 and is seeing steady monthly increases in ridership. Comparing five-month periods, Langri cited an increase in employment-related trips and said overall trips for the five months rose by about 62% and that employee counts rose from roughly seven staff when she started to 18 today.
Langri said the program receives federal and state support but must provide local matching funds. She said the agency expects $250,000 in federal funds for 2026 that would require a $250,000 local match and asked the council for a $6,000 contribution to support local matching needs; she also apologized for a verbal mix-up in which she referenced a separate $2,500 request tied to Geneva.
Council members moved and approved the requested local contribution by voice vote. The minutes record the motion and a second (second by Kelly); a formal vote tally was not read aloud in the transcript.
Langri described operational pressures behind the ask: higher payroll costs after raising driver pay to roughly $15–$18 an hour, driver training and DOT requirements, and the agency’s goal to break even rather than generate profit. She said the expanded evening hours (extending service to about 6 p.m.) have improved access for workers commuting outside standard business hours.
The council did not request additional documentation in the meeting, but Langri said the agency plans to continue quarterly budget adjustments when submitting claims and that a staff meeting with DNR and the grant writer is scheduled to clarify grant rules and reporting requirements.
The council approved the local contribution; the council packet and submitted grant materials will determine whether the $27,000 grant-writing line item discussed later in the meeting is reimbursable if the grant is awarded.
The city will record the formal appropriation and related documentation in its claims and payroll records.
