WAUPACA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Transportation Coordination
Committee Minutes
January
19, 2012
This
meeting and all other meetings of this committee are open to the public. Proper notice has been posted and given to
the press in accordance with Wisconsin statutes so that the citizenry may be
aware of the time, place and agenda of this meeting.
Meeting
called to order by Chairman Gerald Murphy at the Waupaca County Courthouse,
Waupaca, WI, Room – Lower Level 43, at 2:04 p.m.
MEMBERS
PRESENT: Robert
(Bob) Thompson, Terri Moe, Carl Kietzmann, Gerald Murphy, Gene Ruppert, Nancy
Ferg, and David Lowe (Running Inc.).
OTHERS
PRESENT: Pat
Enright, Peggy Strey, Karl Schulte (Waupaca Taxi) and James Hotvedt (Wisconsin
Veterans Home).
I.
ADOPTION OF
AGENDA:
Peggy apologized for agenda number and Item III/ IV (separation) confusion. Motion
by Carl Kietzmann, seconded by Terri Moe to approve agenda. Motion carried.
II.
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES: Motion by Dave Lowe, seconded by
Terri Moe, to approve October 13, 2011 Minutes. Motion carried.
III.
COMMITTEE
MEMBERSHIP
IV.
Activate Dave
Lowe as Running Inc. representative replacing Richard Running and act on
nomination of James Hotvedt as WVH representative.
Dave Lowe had been previously activated
as a voting member in Richard Running’s absence, but is now his permanent
replacement. Karl Schulte will be a voting member in Dave Lowe’s absence. Motion
by Terri Moe, seconded by Carl Kietzmann, to accept Dave Lowe as permanent member
representing Running Inc. with Karl Schulte acting as a backup in his absence
along with a nomination for James Hotvedt’s membership as Wisconsin Veteran’s
Home representative.
V.
LOGISTICARE
Contractual agreement complete. Were
able to get the IRS mileage reimbursement rate, plus .03/mile for administration.
It is an annual contract. Waupaca County started providing rides the week of
Thanksgiving and ridership has been slowly climbing to pre takeover numbers.
Karl Schulte - Q: Do you know if you’ve been
paid yet?
Pat Enright - A: No, but that’s because we have
to work through the billing procedure yet.
Karl stated that they have not yet been
paid, but understand it has to do with the required IT submission/process. Karl
asked if we provided rides Waupaca to Waupaca and Pat stated that we do not and
that we encourage taxi use. Our drivers take on trips where transportation is
unavailable. Efforts are taking place to
make the public aware that we are back in the business through our newsletter,
the ADRC connection, and the WDUX Breakfast Club, etc. Pat would like to know
the number of M.A. riders that Logisitcare transported during these past few interim
months. People are no longer complaining, but they may have given up in frustration.
Pat was appointed to the Logisticare advisory committee and they met once. He was
made aware of an interesting resource called www.doeslogisticare.com
Jerry Murphy thanked Pat and Nancy for
their tremendous efforts during this somewhat stressful period and offered a
big thank you to our drivers, who jumped through hoops to drive for
Logisticare.
VI.
STATE GRANT
REQUESTS
A.
85.21 – Submitted. Continuing with same
projects. Awaiting approval from the state. Is working on the mini-bus restart.
Mini-bus to be kept at courthouse rather than WCI. Working on developing
parameters of use. Plan to use volunteer drivers (unpaid – no tips) for social
and other unmet needs.
B. 5310 – Grant not being pursued at this time.
Gene Ruppert does not see the need and feels there will be a greater scope of interest
in two years during the next grant cycles where more partners of interest will
be invited to participate (nursing homes etc.).
They are also reducing the use of one of
their buses, beginning April 2nd, through route redistribution with
the goal of reducing overall miles.
VII.
ADDRESSING
ELDERLY MOBILITY ISSUES SURVEY – Provided binder to each member
The 2011 study, done by WisDOT’s
research center, provided very interesting information on the future landscape
of transportation needs in Wisconsin as the baby boomers age. Research shows that Waupaca County will
experience an 80% increase in people over age 65 and about 20% of the
population is expected to be disadvantaged transportation wise.
Plans are already underway to change ambulance
transport for Medicare recipients. The ambulance has historically provided
roundtrip transportation whenever possible, but the state is now only allowing one
way rides basing this decision on the premise that return trips are
non-emergency and, therefore, more economical options should be used.
Terri Moe asked if many surveys were
returned specific to Waupaca County. Pat believed there to be at least 400, but
not all were collected via our agency.
VIII.
ASSESSING AND
ADDRESSING MOBILITY ISSUES IN WAUPACA COUNTY
Pat highlighted specific survey areas
prompting discussion on how to go about finding the transportation needs of our
communities. Is working on the 2013-2015 Aging Plan, which requires us to offer
public forums this year. Would like to incorporate transportation needs within
these forums and plans on using our newsletter (ADRC Connection) to gather
information. Terry suggested that Pat communicate
some of these study results to the public in the next newsletter.
Dave Lowe sees the difficulty in getting
good survey results as most people don’t see the need till they are
forced. He will connect with those who
have done some fairly in-depth research.
Our rural areas need our help and this
committee will be really helpful in that mobility management plan.
The change in ambulance use is just one
example of how transportation needs will be adjusted for assisted living and
other nursing centers.
Must remove stigma to taking public
transportation so friends and family can be relieved of any unnecessary
burdens. Suggested example was to use minibus to take people to senior centers
etc. on those days when seniors come for services like nail clinics, ergo
removing the burden of transportation from friends, family, and even those who
perhaps should not be transporting themselves and/or others.
IX.
ADJOURN
Motion made by Terri Moe and seconded by
Dave Lowe to adjourn. Motion carried.
NEXT MEETING –
April 12, 2012 – 2:00 PM – Waupaca County Courthouse
Respectfully
submitted by:
Peggy
Strey
Secretary,
Aging and Disability Resource Unit