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Rates will change for Cedar County Transit Service

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HARTINGTON — The Cedar County Transit system will see some rate adjustments starting July 1.

Manager Nikki Pinkelman met with County Commissioners in a public hearing format at their May 28 meeting to discuss the current transit fees and the possible need to adjust the rates going forward to better reflect the actual distance and time that is traveled to each destination.

The Cedar County Transit is a transportation service provided by Cedar County for its residents consisting of seven vans that are stationed in Hartington and are available for the general public including persons with disabilities who reside in Cedar County.

The van service provides transportation to any county resident Monday – Friday from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. to various destinations such as doctor appointments, travel to airports and cities to see family or for whatever reason within a 200-mile radius of Hartington.

Handicap accessible vans with a wheelchair ramp are also available.

The transit vans and service are subsidized federally and by the State of Nebraska and only a nominal fee is charged for the service. The fee charged is for a round-trip ride such as for a doctor’s appointment that would also include the driver’s waiting time. If, however, a person scheduled a ride to Omaha to be dropped off at the airport and wanted a ride back home a week later, the fee and rate would double due to the additional trip.

Currently, cities and towns have been lumped together by a range of similar distances with a specific rate for each grouping.

For example, Omaha, Lincoln or Kearney’s rate is currently set at $50 for a round trip to each destination.

Pinkelman had drafted a new fee schedule proposal for commissioners to consider that would better reflect the actual distance traveled.

All three county commissioners agreed the fee charged should better reflect the actual distance and time involved.

Under this new formula, the rates going forward would be adjusted to $50 for a trip to Omaha; $55 to Lincoln; and $75 to Kearney.

A trip to Yankton would be $8 and the new rate for a trip to Sioux City would be $12.

The new rate schedule reflects transit fees to various locations from each origination point consisting of Hartington, Coleridge, Wynot, Fordyce, St. Helena, Laurel, Belden, Randolph and Bow Valley. Pick-up and drop offs are from and to the actual residence of the rider within Cedar County.

“It is obvious the transit fees only cover a small part of the actual cost for the actual transportation service provided, but because of the federal and state funding we can offer a tremendous service at a very affordable rate to county residents,” said Commissioner Dave McGregor.

After a review of the proposed rate changes, a motion was made by McGregor and seconded by Chris Tramp to approve the modified fee schedule for the Transit System with the new rates to become effective on July 1. The motion carried with a 3-0 vote.

In other action at the May 28 meeting, County Road Supt. Carla Schmidt presented one underground easement permit which was approved and signed by Commissioner Craig Bartels. Schmidt then presented information on changes made by the Nebraska Legislature on the One and Six Year Road Plan. Discussion was also held on bridge inspections and temporary road repairs that are underway.

Zoning Administrator Tim Gobel presented one building permit for Frank Sherman for a 10’X30’ seasonal room on his house. A motion was made by Tramp and seconded by Bartels to approve the permit. It then carried with a 3-0 vote.

Special Liquor licenses were approved for St. John the Baptist Parish Center for a June 22 fundraiser and for Nissen Wine for a July 6 Music Event.

At 10:15 am, a hearing for a road closing in Precinct 21 was opened for comments from area residents. In the audience were Floyd, Bev and Tim Bloom who asked questions about access to their property.

A motion was made by Commissioner Bartels and seconded by Commissioner Tramp to approve and pass resolution 19-04 to close just a potion of the road in question. The motion carried with a 3-0 vote.

Lastly, Chris Rasmussen, the Laurel Economic Development Director was on hand to discuss the Cedar County Economic Development website and how it will be handled and coordinated going forward.

The Commissioners had agreed to have the county contribute $2,000 for the website management going forward.