The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill correspondent
Changes are ahead for the Hancock County Public Transportation System. However, transportation director, Miranda Lambert, assured the Hancock County board that there should be no change in the service that local residents see.
Transportation systems for both Hancock and McDonough counties are coordinated by Lambert. There has been a large increase in the bid from Durham School transportation, that currently provides bus service. Last year the CARES Act funding (federal financial aid during the pandemic) helped pay the rising cost. However those funds are no longer available.
The two counties decided against renewing the contract with Durham, and are looking at other options.
The Hancock County board approved a resolution for the Consideration and Action on Transportation Service Agreement for Hancock County Public Transportation at their regular meeting Sept. 21.
According to Lambert, this is the first step of several that are needed to arrange a new provider for the transportation service.
“We are hoping to bring operations in-house to help us manage the costs,” Lambert said. “Our (McDonough) employees will be hired by the city of Macomb. Hancock County drivers will still be county residents.”
Hancock County Transportation System has contracts with Memorial Hospital, Mental Health Centers of Western Illinois, and the West Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging, giving rides to their clientele. This will continue.
“As of now Hancock County hours remain the same, with service from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday in county.”
The service allows residents to schedule rides anywhere in Hancock County. Non-emergency trips to medical facilities within a two-hour radius are provided on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She urged residents to book these trips well in advance.
The board approved hiring Jeff Dedey as a part time IT consultant at $35 per hour to assess county computer systems.
Dedey will analyze current technology, assess what problems are occurring, and make suggestions for what could be improved.
He will begin working with the county clerk and county treasurer to evaluate their office systems and problems.
John Simon of Adams County EMS, the current overseer for Hancock County EMS, gave a preliminary financial report for the ambulance service. He reported on usage, income and costs of the service. He reviewed the fee schedule and made some suggestions.
The proposed ambulance fee schedule was adopted by the board. It will go into effect Dec. 1, at the beginning of the new county fiscal year.
The salary of the circuit clerk was set at $60,340, identical to the salaries for the county treasurer and county clerk. This takes effect with the new fiscal year Dec. 1.
In other action, the board: