Crossfield Mayor Nathan Anderson said council values the Rocky View Regional Handibus Society (RVRHS) service but wants to work with local groups to determine ridership and help fund the hefty fee increase the society has implemented for the service in the town.
“I think the key thing is for those folks using the handibus to know they are front and forward in our concern,” Anderson said. “We’re not just going to cancel the service without a back up plan in place.”
In January, the RVRHS informed council they would cancel service to the town if council did not agree to the change in fee schedule that saw an increased fee for the service.
The fees changed from a pay-what-you-can model that saw Crossfield paying $5,000 for the service in 2013, to a per capita fee schedule that meant a $9,800 increase to about $14,800 for 2014.
The Town was given a deadline of Feb. 28, to agree to the fee increase or the service would be discontinued in the town.
Councillors and Town administration met with local service groups on Feb. 5 to discuss a cost-sharing agreement for the service between the Town and the service groups. From that meeting $3,500 was collected from the service groups, with the Crossfield Agricultural Society and Crossfield Royal Purple Lodge 261 both donating $1,500 and the Crossfield Legion committing $500 to the service.
The Town matched that $3,500 for a total of $7,000 towards the $14,800 cost, and the service fee deadline was extended to June 30 by RVRHS.
Council has invited representatives from the Crossfield Elks and the Crossfield Lions Club to the May 20 council meeting to further discuss a cost-sharing agreement with the groups for the handibus service.
“This is a challenge that in my opinion should be funded through Family and Community Support Services (FCSS),” Anderson said.
“Traditionally, it was funded (through FCSS) but the government cancelled transportation funding through FCSS.”
FCSS is an 80/20 funding partnership between the Government of Alberta, and municipalities where communities design and deliver social programs that are preventive in nature to promote and enhance well-being among individuals, family and communities. The programs developed under FCSS are intended to help individuals in their community to adopt healthy lifestyles, thereby improving the quality of life and building the capacity to prevent and/or deal with crisis situations should they arise, according to Government of Alberta website.
“It’s really a health care issue that has been downloaded to the municipalities,” Anderson said of eliminating transportation funding through FCSS.
He added the majority of the riders using the handibus service are doing so to get to medical appointments.
The RVRHS’ new per capita fee schedule is set to have yearly increases, which Anderson said is a big reason the Town and service groups need to work together to address funding for the service.
“We would sure appreciate it if (service groups) would talk to their members and get a sense of who is using the (handibus) service,” he said, adding by knowing who is using the service it may help service groups see the need for the service in the town and be more willing to donate.
If you are a member of a service group and would like to contribute to the handibus fund, call the Town of Crossfield at 403-946-5565.
