Time’s up for Crossfield council to make a decision on the Rocky View Regional Handibus Society’s (RVRHS) fee increase and councillors learned an offer to pay just less than half the bill has been turned down by RVHS.
“I’m speechless,” said Paul Siller, RVRHS general manager.
“I’m very disappointed Crossfield doesn’t want to make the commitment.”
He added over the next few weeks RVRHS will notify users the service will be discontinued in Crossfield.
As reported in the Jan. 14 edition of Rocky View Weekly, RVRHS moved from a “give what you can” model to cover the cost of the service to a per capita fee for 2014. The fee change would have seen the Town’s bill for the service increase from $5,000 the Town paid in 2013 to about $14,800 for 2014 based on a per capita rate of $5.20.
“I would sincerely hope Rocky View Handibus Society would continue service if we match the $3,500,” said Councillor Jo Tennant at the Feb. 25, Town council meeting.
The Town met with local service groups Feb. 5, 2014, to discuss a 50/50 cost sharing agreement between the Town and the service groups for the handibus service. Since that meeting the Town has confirmed $3,500 in donations from local service groups to help cover the cost of the handibus service.
The Crossfield Agricultural Society and Crossfield Royal Purple Lodge 261 have both donated $1,500 and the Crossfield Legion has committed $500 to the service.
Tennant said although she thinks more funds will come from local service groups, and she hopes RVRHS will work with the town to allow them more time to come up with the remainder of the funds.
In a two-to-one vote – Mayor Nathan Anderson and Councillor Hadi Feltham were absent from the meeting – council voted to approach RVRHS with the $7,000 payment and a commitment that the Town will match any further amount of funds that come in from service groups until the full $14,800 is paid.
“I think the value for the service is there… but we don’t want to be in the public transit business,” said Councillor Jason Harvey.
Councillor James Ginter, who opposed the decision to go forward with just $7,000 of the bill, suggested the Town pay the entire amount outright and collect for service groups as donations came in.
He added he didn’t think the $11,300 remaining after the $3,500 donations from service groups was deducted is a huge portion of the Town’s budget. He added part of being a municipality includes public transportation.
“What is our option as a Town for providing this service for people?” Ginter asked.
“This is not a sudden thing. We’ve been informing them for three years that we’re moving to this scale,” Siller said.
RVRHS presented details of the service and the fee changes to council on Jan. 7, and the RVRHS Board voted on Jan. 16, to discontinue service to Crossfield on Feb. 28, if the Town did not commit to the new fee schedule.
