COMMISSION: TRANSIT BOARD NEEDS NO TAX

JACKSON, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau County commissioners steered clear of a transit tax Thursday, telling members of the new transit board and a related advisory committee to make use of existing state and federal funding.

"I don't think you will need a sales tax," said Commissioner Larry Bock.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said the commission would be cautious about any tax proposal. "To get a tax issue passed in Cape County is really going to take some doing."

The commission convened the five-member Transit Authority and the nine-member advisory committee for the first time. The commission created the board and advisory committee last month to coordinate transportation services in the county.

Advisory member Miki Gudermuth said she wished the commission had appointed a transit rider to the advisory committee.

"They see the problem from a different perspective than providers or funders," she said.

Jones said the commission isn't interested in expanding the advisory committee. "We did what we felt was the best we could do." he said. "I know we didn't satisfy everyone."

While they aren't on the advisory committee or the Transit Authority, Jones said transit users are welcome to attend the board meetings.

Jones told the Transit Authority and the advisory committee that they need to hold meetings that are open to the press and the public. The board and committee must follow the state's Open Meetings Law, he said.

He advised the Transit Authority to consult with the advisory committee. The committee includes transportation providers who can give the authority valuable information and advice, Jones said.

The Transit Authority needs to keep the commission informed of its actions, he said.

Jones said about $1 million a year in grant money flows to various agencies and organizations in Cape Girardeau County for transportation services. Jones and the other two commissioners said the money could be spent better if the Transit Authority can get transportation providers to work together.

The presiding commissioner said the Transit Authority and advisory committee should seek to get two transportation services to work together rather than try to coordinate everything at once. "It would border on chaos if you would try to do it all at one time," he said.

"We have a lot of vans running around in Cape Girardeau County," said Jones. At times transit organizations are sending vans, each with a single rider, to the same destination, he said.

Bock said he hopes the Transit Board and advisory committee can see to it that the money is spent more wisely.

Jones said VIP Industries is interested in getting out of the transportation business. VIP Industries currently hauls its handicapped workers from group homes to the sheltered workshops and back again.

Jones said the Transit Authority might look at administering Cape Girardeau city's taxi coupon program in the future.

"You can negotiate contracts with current providers," he said.

The commission, he said, isn't trying to infringe on services provided by private businesses. He said commissioners aren't trying to jeopardize the taxi service in Cape Girardeau or Cape County Transit Inc. in Jackson.

The authority must develop a budget and decide if it needs a full-time director, Jones said.

The presiding commissioner said the Transit Authority will have to look for funding. The County Commission hasn't provided any money for the authority. "You don't have any money to play with," he said.

The Area Wide United Way has offered to help fund a transit director position. Jones said the Transit Authority can decide if it wants to accept the offer.