Region 9: 2012 Meeting Minutes (6/13)

 

Region 9 HSTP Quarterly Meeting Minutes

Wednesday June 13, 2012

Attendees:

Linda Vidmar	Il. Valley Rehab Center-Gillespie
Kathy Gregus	Tri-Cities Area Association for the Handicapped-Granite City
Sheila Niederhofer	South Central Transit-Centralia
Vickie Clift	South Central Transit-Centralia
Cathy West	F.A.S.T.T.-Maryville
Donna Mitchell	Area Agency on Aging Lincolnland-Springfield
Peggy Dunn	Macoupin Co. Public Transit-Gillespie
Barb Nelson	Community Link-Breese
Chris Markel	Beverly Farm-Godfrey
Kim Taylor	FAYCO-Vandalia
David Riegel	FAYCO\Fayette Co. Board-Vandalia
Kathy Malloy	Il. Valley Sr. Center-Jerseyville
Lacey Miller	Il. Valley Rehab Center-Jerseyville
Lois Clark	St. John’s Community Care-Collinsville
Dennis Presley	Rural Medical Transportation Network-SIU Carbondale
Terri Finn	HSTP Coordinator-Salem
Jaime Blatti	HSTP Coordinator-Salem

 

The meeting was brought to order at 11:00am at the Foundation for Autism Today & Tomorrow (FASTT) in Maryville.

 

Terri & Jaime provided the results of the HSTP survey that they had sent out to everyone asking for suggestions on the direction the HTSP Committee & meetings need to take-format, priorities, etc.  Some of the suggestions and questions will be included at each quarterly meeting.

 

Sheila Niederhofer (SCT) explained their format for leasing vehicles from other agencies.  She stated that this has gone well for them and they have had no problems with insurance or other liability issues.  She passed out sample lease agreements and mentioned that when SCT leases an agencies vehicle it is usually done for $1 and an agreement made that SCT would provide the transportation of the agencies clients.  Kim Taylor stated that the question was originally needing answered was, how do agency’s lease a vehicle when one is out of service for just a few days.  The suggestion was made to contact Southern Bus & Mobility in Breese for leasing or contact the nearest transit provider for any assistance they may have to offer.

 

Terri & Jaime discussed their difficult experience with trying to find transportation for individuals in rural St. Clair & Madison Co.’s.  This led to discussion on how coordination should work.  It was agreed that coordination of services will come more naturally as the HSTP Committee members talk informally and get to know each other’s systems better.  This will be an ongoing agenda item for the Committee & agencies will be asked to give examples of coordination experiences, good or bad, as a way to try to improve efforts in the region.

A list of Human Service agency’s and public transit providers in Region 9 was distributed.  Any additions\deletions\corrections should be sent to Terri or Jaime.  It was agreed that the addition of a contact name & phone number would be useful.

 

Dennis Presley (Rural Medical Transportation Network at SIU-C) explained their project, which is funded by IDOT and is dedicated to researching medical transportation issues, as well as collaboration with Emergency Medical Service providers, transit agencies and health care providers to resolve the deficiencies in the transportation system.  There is a Medical Transportation Advocacy Forum on Thursday, July 19^th from 5:00-8:00pm in Carbondale.  The goal of the forum is to provide a venue for discussion of these issues and an opportunity to bring together professionals in the field and the public officials who impact these issues.

 

The results of the CVP endorsement\voting teleconference were disseminated.  There were 7 applicants and 12 vehicles requested.  All applications were endorsed and applications will be sent to IDOT\DPIT for the final phase of review.

 

Jaime announced to the Committee that she has accepted a new job as the Executive Director of Lee-Ogle Transit System (LOTS).  She is excited for the new adventure but sad to leave. 

 

The next regional meeting is scheduled for Wednesday Sept. 19, 2012 at 11:00am at the South Central Transit training center in Centralia.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 12:00pm