Region 10: 2023 Meeting Minutes (1/12)

  

HSTP Region 10

Quarterly Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

                                         

Attendees:

Betty Cox	Clay County Rehab-Flora
Mark Auten	TRADE Industries-McLeansboro
Heather Baker	Charleston Transitional Facility-Olney
Mike Egbert	Opportunities for Access CIL-Mt. Vernon
Cory Young	Marion County Horizon Center-Salem
Janice Zwilling	Lawrence-Crawford Association for Exceptional Citizens-Robinson
Shana Holmes	Southeastern Il. Area Agency on Aging-Mt. Carmel
Vicki Harrelson	Senior Center Nutrition Center\SEIAAA-Mt. Carmel
Christine Baize	Senior Center Nutrition Center\SEIAA-Mt. Carmel
David Maziarz	IL. Dept. of Transportation-Springfield
Jeffrey Drake	Rides MTD-Harrisburg
Riley Anderson	South Central Il. Regional Planning & Development Commission-Salem
Nathan Nichols	Central Il. Public Transit\Effingham Co. Public Transit-Effingham
Gidget Simpson	CILA Corporation-Flora
Terri Finn	Human Service Transportation Planning Coordinator-Salem

Call to Order: The quarterly HSTP Region 10 meeting was held on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 via teleconference.  The meeting was called to order by Chairperson, Mark Auten at 11:03am.

Introductions:  Roll call was done by Terri Finn. All attendees introduced themselves and their respective agencies.

Approval of October 2022 meeting minutes: Terri Finn asked if everyone reviewed the October minutes—Janice Zwilling made a motion to approve the minutes and Corey Young seconded the motion. Minutes approved.   

Guest Speakers:  Terri introduced the guest speakers: Shana Holmes with the Southeastern Il. Area Agency on Aging, Vicki Harrelson and Christie Baize, with the SEIAAA Senior Nutrition Program in Mt. Carmel.

Shana began the presentation with agency information stating that SEIAAA serves 9 counties in Southeastern Illinois.  They serve older adults with many programs.  Transportation services were not an option when she started in the field.  In 2008, they first received funding for transportation, but that amount of funding does not cover the vast needs for senior transportation.

SEIAAA recently sent out a survey for public opinion on what services, including transportation, is needed in the service area.  A few of the needs include:  Calling in advance is challenging to many older people, sitting on a bus for hours, no extended hours for transportation, no regular routes or no regular stops, the person can’t drive, there is not as much funding offered to the Southern part of the State, many can’t afford car payments and rely on public transportation, Medicaid refusing some transportation.  SEIAAA’s duty is to advocate for appropriate and reliable service to the area. 

Vicky Harrelson spoke next, stating that the nutrition center serves an extremely rural area (White & Hamilton counties) with many older people in her area literally living “in the middle of nowhere” and since Covid, many of their patrons have not been coming to the nutrition center. She stated that there is not much transportation in their area on a daily basis and if there is, it is extremely limited.  She said many of her patrons have stated that public transportation is too difficult to use, as they have extremely long wait times.  She did say that to the best of her knowledge, there is a bus route available 2 days a week.  She did say that she knows many of the older people in White and Hamilton counties also need weekend transportation. 

Terri Finn asked Shana to email their surveys results to her as she would like to work with Shana to track addresses of those stating they aren’t getting transportation.  Terri also encouraged Shana, Vicki & Christine to work with their clients that are having difficulties, to fill out complaints to the public provider (available on each providers website).  This is the only way to make their voice truly heard.  

Jeffery Drake informed the committee that Saturday transportation is offered in many counties and he can work to address getting service to more of the people in Wayne & White counties. Rides does work with many doctors’ offices to help people get to their needed appointments scheduled in alignment with available transportation service. 

Regional Plan: Terri Finn has updated the Gaps and Needs section to reflect the additional information that has been discussed at previous meetings such as; weekend and evening hours availability.  Jeffery Drake also stated how many dialysis centers have closed and they have had to try to get people to offices that are open but are usually much farther distances thus taking buses and drivers away from normal service.    

Transportation Concerns: David Maziarz provided some IDOT information.  Cory Young asked when the 2022 CVP awards might be announced.  At this time there is no update on those release dates.

General Discussion: 

·         Election of Officers:  The following committee members volunteered. 

x       CHAIR:  Mark Auten

x       VICE CHAIR:  Heather Baker

x       SECRETARY:  Gidget Simpson

·         Handouts\Resource materials:  Terri Finn went over handouts.

·         IDOT Updates:  Terri Finn asked those that had not sent in Annual Certifications to IDOT to do so asap as they were due last November.  Please remember to cc’ her when sending to Zoe Keller.

Adjourn: The next meeting will be held on April 18^th at the Southeastern Il. AAA in Mt. Carmel, 602 East 5^th Street at 11am.  Motion was made by Janice Zwilling to adjourn at 12:02pm, 2^nd by Cory Young.