By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Is there a need for public transportation throughout Adams County? A lengthy discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting of Decatur City Council left little doubt that the need is real.
Council on Aging Director Michelle Lengerich, county Commissioner Stan Stoppenhagen and local attorney Clayton Lengerich brought plans for such a service before the council.
There are still details to be ironed out, but if all goes well, the service could be in operation by January 1. It would be operated by the Adams County Council on Aging, which is based in the MERIT Center in Decatur, but would be available to everyone, not just senior citizens.
As just one example of need: 45% of people in the county’s Community Corrections don’t have a driver’s license and need to get to the department. Large numbers of people on probation lack transportation to be able to visit their parole officer.
And, of course, hundreds of people through Adams County struggle with transportation needs. Someone at the meeting even noted that students could use it go home after ball practice.
Countywide public transportation isn’t exactly unique: 72% of Indiana’s 92 counties have it, it was pointed out
Current plans call for the service to be available from 6 am. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“The possibilities are endless; it’s exciting,” Michelle Lengerich said.
One definite need would be a garage to house the Council on Aging vans (four now, six later). Stoppenhagen called a garage “essential.”
Due to the hydraulic systems in the vans, they now need several hours of warmup to begin functioning in cold winter weather.
Stoppenhagen said the county could like to lease from the city a portion of the northwest corner of the MERIT Center lot to erect a garage. That’s a detail city officials are ready to work out.
“This is what collaboration looks like,” Councilman Matt Dyer said.
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