Kankakee Times

River Valley Metro Mass Transit District Board of Trustees met May 23.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

Chairman Allen called the regularly scheduled 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, Secretary Kelly St. Aubin, Board Members: Mark Argyelan, Carole Franke, Jerry Pearce

Staff Members Present: Managing Director Robert Hoffmann, Director of Administration Lois Bentley, Director of Operations Michelle Brutlag, and COO Ken Munjoy

Others Present: Siron Sims (First Transit), Geoff Olson (Kankakee County Planning), Rich Berns (Transit Officer), Duane Stubblefield (citizen)

Pledge of Allegiance: Nick Allen 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. Carole Franke seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken of those in attendance, with all in favor. Consent agenda approved.

Communications:

Chairman’s Report: (Nick Allen) None

Managing Director’s Report: (Robert Hoffmann) None

Operations Report: (Siron Sims) April ridership = 59,342. TYD ridership through April is 697,173 We have 38 operators. A hiring event is scheduled for June 1 and 2, and another for the 2nd week of June.

Complaint Customer Service Report: There were 8 complaints/comments in the last month. Customer Care Supervisors and Transit Officers transported 176 passengers in April.

Board Report: Norman Grimsley reported that he received an email from Mike Grimsley regarding a study showing that increased use of bus systems instead of private transportation helps to combat obesity

Mark Argyelan inquired about our declining ridership. Rob Hoffmann responded that it is due to the elimination of two routes and Sunday/Holiday service. We expect to see a rebound when these services are restored.

Susan Legris has an interest in States Attorney Jim Rowe’s upcoming training meeting regarding the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on June 28, but cannot attend. She has contacted Mr. Rowe’s office to see if the session will be recorded for future viewing.

New Business: Our current Drug and Alcohol Policy states the substances that are tested for and the limits for each. Our Triennial inspector recommended that, since acceptable limits often change, we should remove limits from our policy. Motion to revise the policy was made by Jerry Pearce and seconded by Kelly St. Aubin. Motion passed unanimously.

We are applying for 10 new buses through this year’s 5339 grant. The 9 buses that were awarded to us through last year’s 5339 grant have not yet gone out to bid. Rob Hoffmann has suggested to IDOT that this money could be used to buy existing new stock 2016 or newer buses instead of to build new buses. We do not yet have a response.

Board members should send officer nominations to Nick Allen and copy Rob Hoffmann. Nick Allen asked Rob Hoffmann to send each board member a list of board member term expirations.

Old Business: There were no significant findings in our Triennial Review. Two minor findings have already been corrected:

1) Our Facilities Maintenance Plan did not identify critical items. All are now noted.

2) Our ADA “No Show” appeal time period must match our time period for ADA suspensions. This was actually corrected just before the Triennial Review.

Comprehensive Operations Analysis Update

1) All 6 Field Supervisor/Dispatchers are hired or in process of being hired

2) Meetings to discuss proposed route/schedule changes have been held with all mayors except Bourbonnais, which will be held tomorrow

3) We will have a dry run for all drivers on all routes on Sunday, June 11

4) We are close to signing agreements with Kankakee Walmart and Northfield Square Mall for usage of their properties. Both have been extremely cooperative.

5) Proposed new routes/schedules are posted on our website and are available at the front counter. Announcements were made by local media asking the public to provide comments. So far, we have had very minimal public comment.

6) Ken Munjoy will be presenting the plan to all affected organizations, service clubs, etc. over the next few weeks. Due to funding restrictions, we will not be using paid advertising to announce these changes.

Questions from the news media: None

Other Business to come Before the Board: Geoff Olson provided each board member with a copy of the MPO budget and with the draft transportation Improvement Program. Rob Hoffmann noted that Mr. Olson is doing a great job and we appreciate our relationship with his department.

Executive Session Motion to go into executive session was made by Kelly St. Aubin and seconded by Norman Grimsley at 3:26 PM. Roll call vote passed unanimously.

Returned from executive session and resumed open session at 3:52 PM.

Motion to act upon items discussed in Executive Session made by Norman Grimsley and seconded by Mark Argyelan. Roll call vote with all in favor.

Adjournment Motion to adjourn by Jerry Pearce, seconded by Susan Legris, and a unanimous yes vote of all members, meeting was adjourned at 3:55 PM.

http://www.rivervalleymetro.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Board-Minutes-5-23-17.pdf