The Warren County Commissioners on Monday raised a question that’s been on the table before: Does the Transit Authority of Warren County need full-length buses to deliver transportation services throughout the county?

The impetus of the discussion was a county match totaling $25,204 that the commissioners evidently agreed to a couple years ago but never formally approved.

That match was part of an investment in excess of $1 million to replace three of the full-sized Gillig buses in 2020.

Commissioner Jeff Eggleston said there was a “miscommunication” on the issue.

“The buses were purchased and the county never officially made a match resolution,” he said.

Commissioner Ben Kafferlin said he thought the expense was to be funded out of federal CARES Act dollars but Eggleston said the commissioners “never signed a resolution stating that, which is what is required to make that contribution.”

Eggleston said that when the situation came to light there was then discussion about the need for that size of bus given the typical number of passengers.

“That was our objection at the time but we acknowledged they were already ordered,” Kafferlin siad.

He asked the TAWC representatives in attendance whether there is “some sort of compromise that might be cheaper,” such as 15 passenger vans.

TAWC Board member Grace Wright said the “state has a position on this. They don’t want transit authorities having mixed groups of buses” for maintenance and parts reasons. “There’s a policy… buy the bus for your largest demand. We do have demand. Not all the time. There are demands for more than 16 passengers.

“(The) cost savings is not as much as you think it would be.”

TAWC Executive Director Wendy Hollabaugh said the white buses cost over $100,000 and will last for five years while the larger buses cost $400,000 but will last 15. Demand in excess of 15 would require a second vehicle and a second driver, she said.

“Gilligs do hold up way better than those white buses do,” she added.

Eggleston asked whether it was possible to obtain an opinion to “definitively state” what the cheapest option is for the long term.

“Everybody here supports public transportation (an) wants to see people utilize the buses,” he said.

He proposed that they seek an outside entity to come in and review the system generally to look at the bus issue as well as routes, peak times and “how often peak times happen.”

“That really piques my interest,” Kafferlin said.

Write emphasized that TAWC staff wouldn’t not have the time to conduct that analysis in-house.

The match issue as well as the review are anticipated to be on Wednesday’s meeting agenda.

TAX NOTICES COMING OUT

Tax Claim Director Phil Gilbert told the Commissioners that he aims to send out about 1,200 notices this week to property owners to notify them that their 2020 taxes are delinquent.

He said it’s a step that hasn’t been taken before in the county at this stage of the tax sale process.

“Hopefully we see an influx of payments,” he said.