Region 9: 2021 Meeting Minutes (9/9)

 

HSTP Region 9

September 9, 2021

Quarterly Meeting Minutes

 

Attendees:

Mike Egbert	Opportunities for Access CIL-Mt. Vernon
Sherry Hicks	Fayco Enterprise-Vandalia
Nathan Nichols	Central Il. Public Transit-Effingham
Sara Berkbigler	Main St. Community Center-Edwardsville
Susan Wild	Challenge Unlimited-Alton
Vicki Clift	South Central Transit-Centralia
Sara Hodge	South Central Transit-Centralia
Peggy Dunn	Macoupin Co. Public Transit-Gillespie
Jennifer Noel	Macoupin Co. Public Transit-Gillespie
Adam Bundouris	Bond Co. Transit-Greenville
Todd Nickel	Challenge Unlimited-Alton
Eric Robke	Community Link-Breese
Matt Liefer	Il. Valley Rehab-Gillespie
Susan Thomas	Madison Co. Transit\ACT-Granite City
Lacey Miller	Tri-Co Rural Transit-Jerseyville
Wendy Settles	IMPACT CIL-Alton
Terri Finn	HSTP Coordinator-Salem

 

Call to Order: The Region 9 quarterly HSTP meeting was called to order at 11:05 a.m. by Chairperson, Sherry Hicks, at Main St. Community Center in Edwardsville.  

 

Introductions: All those in attendance introduced themselves and announced their agency. 

 

Approval of June 2021 Meeting Minutes: Motion by Wendy Settles, second by Peggy Dunn. Minutes approved.

 

Transportation concerns: Each agency gave an update on ridership and staffing issues.   

·         Bond County Transit has a new director (Melissa Marti) since Jill Ohnesorge went to work for IDOT and a new transit manager since the passing of longtime manager Steve Hoxsey.

·         Macoupin Co. Transit has full capacity routes but need staff & vehicles to meet the needs of the community. Also are experiencing lifts breaking down due to overweight chairs\riders. Discussion followed on handling large mobility device issues. MCPT has drivers that are being hurt by assisting riders.  It was suggested that they document all problems, recommend that an assistant travel with the person using mobility device, send qualified staff out to the home to assess safety and how to reasonably assist and accommodate the rider, as well as use IDOT as a resource to answer questions.

·         ACT is in need of staff & drivers.  They are providing free transportation to testing & vaccination locations.  Service changes will be occurring in January.  A free service was provided to students in Granite City, in September, due to the lack of bus drivers in the school district. 

·         Fayco has a new building in Greenville.  They also need drivers.

·         Community Link has staff shortages and has not been able to let all clients return to work due to the shortage. 

·         Main St. Community Center has been able to hire a couple of new drivers and are getting back to normal.

·         Challenge Unlimited is looking to re-do routes since they are unable to find qualified drivers.

·         OFA has been working with local nursing homes and others on COVID issues.

·         Il. Valley Rehab is in need of vehicles.

·         CIPT has been able to do some successful interviews and is now looking for a new Operations Manager for the scheduling and dispatch department.

·         SCT has been interviewing but at this point only a 6:1 count.  (6 interviewed: 1 hire).

·         IMPACT is working a 1\2 staff rotating work week.  Their bus stop\crosswalk issue is seeing some movement as they are working with the City of Alton, IDOT & MCT with the help of the new public works director.

·         Tri-Co Transit hired 3 new drivers, are in need of vehicles so they are able to increase routes and replace poor vehicles.  Their ridership is back to pre-COVID numbers.    

 

Regional Plan: Terri Finn provided everyone with a form to complete that would provide her with information on agencies that can be contacted with surveys.  The surveys will be used to assess the transportation needs of people in the region and also assess gaps in service.  Terri is making format adjustments to the Plan that IDOT has requested be done.  

 

General discussion:

·         CVP apps not yet available and no timeline as to when they might be.

·         5310 review process will be resuming but Terri Finn stated that she would like to wait until all human service agencies have their information entered into the Blackcat system so agencies are asked to submit & resubmit information. 

·         Discussion held on REBUILD grant application dates.  Award date is scheduled for Nov. 1^st.  SCT & MCPT have both applied. 

·         The next meeting is scheduled for December 9^th via conference call

 

Adjourn: Motion to adjourn at 11:47a.m. by Wendy Settles, 2^nd by Lacey Miller.