WAUPACA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Transportation Coordination Committee Minutes
July 25, 2013
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 2:03 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Carl Kietzmann, Robert Thompson, Dave Lowe, Karl Schulte, Gene Ruppert, Nancy Ferg, and Gerald Murphy.
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Teri Moe and Vacated WVH Position.
OTHERS PRESENT: Christie Gonwa, Peggy Strey, Nick Musson – East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.
I. ADOPTION OF AGENDA: Motion by Dave Lowe, second by Carl Kietzmann to approve agenda. Motion carried
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Karl Schulte, second by Carl Kietzmann to approve minutes of April 11, 2013. Motion carried.
III. 85.21 Award Amount 2013
We received the requested amount in full - $153,518.00
IV. 5310
We have not heard on the status of this to date. Christie Gonwa and Gene Ruppert will be closely working with Nick Musson for better grant understanding. It is believed action on this may need to occur at the next meeting.
V. Transportation Coordination Action Plan
The plan must be completed every five years and is due this year. Nick said this plan will be approached more at a county rather than regional level. The plan looks to identify gaps and needs and develop strategies to meet those needs. Anybody applying for 5310 or 85.21 needs to be listed in the plan, which is due to the DOT on 12/20/13. A large public informational meeting is usually coordinated with the 85.21 public hearing.
Nick has constructed two surveys: one for Participants and one for Users. The focus of Participants (people listed in plan) is to: 1) gather inventory; 2) ask about funding that has been applied for, 3) determine what is or isn’t currently working, and 4) find out if there are any issues from the 2008 plan that are still relevant. User surveys are sent to all interested parties and those invited into the participation.
It was recommended that the informational meeting take place in the morning (9:00 AM), and then followed by the Transportation Committee meeting at 1:00 PM following lunch (provided). Christie and Gene are looking into at having the meeting in Manawa as a more central location.
Nick Musson will prepare the agenda and put the newspaper notices in and will include the 85.21 meeting in the press release(s).
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VI. BROKERED TRANSPORTATION
Christie apologized about the final decision regarding Logisticare’s replacement, MTM, not coming to this committee. Efforts to partner with MTM were fruitless. MTM would not come to agreement on price or honor future IRS mileage reimbursement rates. It was not cost effective to us as our services were not wholly reimbursed by Logisticare, and were found to be costly to administer.
Logisticare owed us 40K and paid us 26K, which we agreed to at the approval of Director Chuck Price. We did this as a guarantee of payment – something we felt may have been an otherwise risky endeavor had it not occurred prior to Logisticare’s 7/31/13 departure.
Unfortunately, Nancy Ferg already reports of a poor client experience with MTM. This client – who had been served by Logisiticare – was being refused service by MTM and called a “liar” as they accused her of falsifying information. Christie has directed Nancy to provide this ride at no cost and will be researching this. We will be charging MTM for this ride as we cannot create a standard that makes us the backup whenever MTM denies a rider. Nick knows who the customer support supervisor is and will provide the information to Christie.
VII. NEW SERVICE PROPOSALS
Last year we identified a partnership with Iola Living Assistance that we plan to move forward on, but nothing more has been planned, however, there will be more discussion and planning as the needs exist and the time is right.
VIII. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES
We are interested in collaboration with others – reaching out and partnering with all entities of need (nursing homes, municipalities, etc.). Karl feels internet/website expansion and one dispatch center would create a cost savings that would provide better consumer service.
Christie spoke of having more 85.21 funds available to have Nick help us more with the 85.21, 5310 and 5 year planning this year because of the threat of losing more money with Logisticare being gone. It was agreed this would be a good use of the funding since it is an allowable expense in the 85.21 grant.
IX. ADJOURN
Motion to adjourn made by Nancy Ferg, second by Carl Kietzmann. Motion carried.
NEXT MEETING – October 10th – 1:00 PM – Manawa Masonic Center - to follow public hearing 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, and committee lunch with Nick
Respectfully Submitted By:
Peggy Strey – Program Assistant
Aging and Disability Resource Unit