Kankakee Times

River Valley Metro Mass Transit District Board of Trustees met Jan. 24.

Here is the minutes as provided by the Board:

Chairman Allen called the River Valley Metro Board of Directors meeting to order at

3:00 pm.

Attending Board Members: Chairman Nick Allen, Vice Chairman Norman Grimsley,

Treasurer Susan Legris, Board Members: Mark Argyelan, Carole Franke, Jerry Pearce,

via phone conference: Secretary Kelly St. Aubin

Staff Members Present: Managing Director; Robert Hoffmann, Director of

Operations and Recording Secretary; Michelle Brutlag, General Manager; Ken

Munjoy, Director of Administration; Lois Bentley

Others Present: Duane E Stubblefield – Exxon Mobil, Geoff Olson – Kankakee

County, Dan Huebner and Andrew Ittigson – AECOM, Siron Sims – First Transit,

Richard Berns and David Douglas – Kankakee County Sheriff’s Department

Pledge of Allegiance: Geoff Olson led the Metro Board and others in attendance in

the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public with Business to Come Before the Board: NONE

Consent Agenda: Norman Grimsley made a motion to approve the consent agenda

as presented. Carole Franke seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken of all in

attendance, with all voting in favor. Consent agenda approved.

Communications:

Chairman’s Report: (Nick Allen)

NONE

Managing Director’s Report: (Robert Hoffmann)

Officer Derek Ryan has retired. Six officers applied for the opening. We have chosen

Richard Berns as his replacement. He has been on his own for just over a week. He

has been a great fit.

Operations Report: (Siron Sims)

November ridership was 64,459 and December’s was 62, 557. Year to date ridership

is 446,001. Currently have 40 operators with 1 in training. We will be having training

classes every Monday. First Transit currently has outside resources on sight to help

with the recruiting process.

Complaint Customer Service Report: (Michelle Brutlag)

Total of 36 complaints for 2 month, 75% were valid and 58% were preventable. No

major trends in the complaints, but all do get passed on so they can be addressed.

Some outreach we had was the Fill the Bus at Legends Sportsplex and midDecember

we took a bus to Manteno for an apartment building fire. We also

assisted a mother of two small children to get to and from the bus on a very icy day.

Board Report:

Norman Grimsley – Most questions from all as to when we will end service.

Susan Legris – Thanked Tim Milner for his support.

New Business:

 Expense Reimbursement Ordinance 2017-1

By law we need to pass this ordinance. It doesn’t really apply to us. We have just

used the boilerplate ordinance.

Norman Grimsley made a motion to approve Expense Reimbursement Ordinance

2017-1. Mark Argyelan seconded the motion. Susan Legris stated that village needs

to be changed to district. Norman Grimsley made the motion to approve the

Expense Reimbursement Ordinance 2017-1 changing village to district. Motion

seconded by Mark Argyelan. A roll call vote was taken, with all in favor. Motion

passes.

 Fragrance ADA Policy

ADA regulations require that we have a fragrance policy. This is their sample policy

from ADA. Carole Franke made a motion to approve the Fragrance Free ADA Policy.

Motion was seconded by Jerry Pearce. All in favor, no one opposed. Motion passes.

 2017 Meeting Schedule

Hoffmann stated that we have meetings the 4

th Tuesday of the month at 3:00 pm

except July and December. We have to approve this with a motion and post the

meeting dates and times for the year. We are required to announce this in the Board

meeting and post on our website and in our lobby.

 Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) Review – Andrew and Dan from

AECOM

Andrew Ittigson reviewed the general findings from the COA and shared some of the

processes on how the data was collected. Andrew also reviewed some the proposed

changes to the routes. There are no changes to Midway and University Park

recommended, but the fixed route changes will decrease travel time for passengers,

especially north to south and is eliminating the large loops in the system, providing

more 2 way travel. Hoffmann will notify Mayors and County Board Chairman that I

would like to set up a 1 on 1 meeting with them to review this plan. He will let the

Board Members know when these meetings are scheduled. We also have to

schedule public comment and public meetings. Notification of IDOT and FTA will also

have to be done. Jerry Pearce made a motion to move forward with this plan for a

July 1st Implementation. Mark Argyelan seconded the motion. A roll call vote of all

was taken with everyone in favor. Motion passes.

Old Business:

 5339 Grant

Metro had applied for 13 buses through the 5339 Grant. We were just approved for

9 buses. We should be receiving these buses this time next year.

Questions from the news media:

NONE

Other Business to come Before the Board:

A motion was made by Carole Franke to move into executive session in accordance

with the Illinois Open Meeting Act 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1), the appointment,

employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific

employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body and 5

ILCS120/2(c)(11) pending or probable litigation against, affecting or on behalf of the

public body. Motion was seconded by Norman Grimsley. Roll call vote was taken

with all in favor. Motion carried. Rolled into executive session at 3:59 pm.

Returned to regular session at 4:18 pm.

Carole Franke made a motion to bring the function of dispatching in house effective

with the new operating contract. Kelly St. Aubin seconded the motion. A roll call

vote was taken with all in favor. Motion carried.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn by Jerry Pearce, seconded by Norman Grimsley, and a unanimous yes vote of all members, meeting was adjourned at 4:20 pm.