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Director’s Report
May 28, 2013
STREAMLINE: Number 606 is parked at our bus barn and is being used for parts. Everything else is up and running. 605 is out of commission
as they finish the annual inspection and AC work. The four “commuter” buses are in the bus barn for the time being.
We are in the process of moving all of the video screens into
the new buses for an extensive push toward making advertising work on the buses.
The RFQ for our Transit Specialist is just about ready to go out for bid. We should have someone
in place by the end of the summer so we can move ahead with changes for the 2014 fiscal year.
GALAVAN: Galavan added 5 new customers in April and gave a total of 1,823 rides in 22
days of service.
Unfortunately the Greater Gallatin United Way chose not to fund Galavan for the upcoming year. The reason for not funding the Galavan program was that the volunteers
found the written and oral presentations to be deficient based on a previous notification during the 2011-2012 cycle. I have tried to make contact with Carol Townsend to get a better
feel for what the committee was looking for but have not been able to sit down with her at this time. I was unaware of any past deficiencies in our written or oral presentations. I
will sit down with Carol at her earliest convenience to improve the grant process. This one time funding drought does not preclude us from submitting subsequent grants, which I will
do. The bottom line is that Galavan’s budget is $23,000 less than anticipated. Obviously this leaves a huge hole in our plans for the upcoming year.
In response to the shortfall
I am proposing an emergency withdrawal from the principal of the Smyth funds of $25,000. This money would be a onetime only withdrawal to be used to help balance the 2014 budget. I
will ask Chris to put this request as an action item for the board agenda for our Tuesday meeting.
We are also looking for a new dispatcher as Cole Mack has left us for a position
with the Job Corps in Anaconda. We are interviewing on Friday and Wednesday. We have several good candidates and hope to fill the position soon. Richard has been coming in to drive.
He just thinks he retired.