Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and providers urge council to address HERDA service cuts
Summary
Three public commenters — a resident, the Village executive director and a former HERDA driver — told council that reductions to HERDA transit are harming access to medical care, groceries and social needs and asked the city to form a task force and pursue funding and coordination with county plans.
Public comment at the May 26 Indianola City Council meeting centered on recent reductions in HERDA transit service and the consequences for residents who rely on it.
"My name is Steve Waterman. I'm a resident at The Village," said Steve Waterman, who told the council he uses the service for eye‑care appointments and urged the city to convene a task force with local and county stakeholders to explore transportation solutions. "Before the budget comes up again ... could you form a committee, some kind of task force ... and see if we can't come up with something that will be of benefit," he said.
Venus Frank, executive director of The Village, said she reviewed the Warren County Community Health Improvement Plan (October 2023), which identifies improved public transportation as a strategy to close treatment gaps and increase access to grocery stores and health care. "Reductions in HERDA services move us further away from the goals outlined" in that plan, Frank said, urging council consideration of funding options and intergovernmental coordination.
A former HERDA driver, identified by the mayor as Dixon, described 18 months behind the wheel and urged the council to prioritize the issue, citing driver hours and compensation as factors affecting service reliability. He said drivers who lack sufficient hours cannot make ends meet and that the community impact is immediate for older residents and people with limited mobility.
Mayor Richardson acknowledged the comments and noted the council had also received three online submissions on related topics. The council did not take formal action during the meeting; several council members and staff said they would consider the requests in upcoming budget and interagency discussions.
What happens next: Council members said staff will track the public comments and the topic may surface in budget discussions and in coordination with Warren County and regional partners. No formal council motion was made at the meeting.
