Non-medical Trans-Aid trips will now cost those that can pay $1.

Commissioners approved charges for residents to use Catoosa County Trans-Aid buses were with a 3-2 vote June 19. “I’m against the whole thing,” said Commissioner Bobby Winters, who voted against. “I don’t want to charge none of them nothing. I wish we could come up with a better way to take care of those that led the way.”

Catoosa County Trans-Aid, a rural public transportation program, provides residents a way to get to doctor visits, dialysis, work in the county, the Senior Center and shopping. Trans-Aid is a service provided for everyone, not just elderly and handicapped people.

County Manager Ron Brown said the move to charge comes at the urging of the state and federal agencies that underwrite the program through grants.

“If we had started years ago when they first asked us, we wouldn’t be talking about it now,” he said. “Different formulas are used in every county and all of the counties around Catoosa charge.”

Commissioner Ken Marks, who also voted against, said that the money collected is not going to amount to much.

“This is a service we provide,” he said.

Under the scaled-back plan proposed by Commissioner Jim Emberson, the county will charge $1 for a one-way non-medical trip. There will be no charge for medical trips. If a person is unable to pay, they will not be turned away. Riders reserving service but not using will be charged $1.

“I think it is fair as long as we do not turn anybody away,” he said.

The $1 charge approved was less than the original proposed fees of: $2 for a one-way trip within the county; $3 for a one-way ride outside of county; $1.50 for a escort or caregiver riding with patient; children under 5 years of age ride free with adult; and seniors field trips from the Catoosa Senior Center are $5 per group.

Commissioner Dewayne Hill, who along with Chairman Bill Clark supported the measure, said one of the issues that concerned him and county residents that called him, is that the county will begin probing into the business of the riders.

“In the calls I had, they said we don’t mind paying $1, we don’t want them getting into our business,” he said.

So how will the county handle the situation when someone says they do not have the money to pay?

“Take them at their word,” Emberson said.

In other business Tuesday, June 19 at the Governmental Building the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to:

* Approve two $37,500 contracts with Georgia Department of Corrections for Walker State Prison work crews.

* Approve two $37,500 contracts with Georgia Department of Corrections for Hays Prison work crews.

* Approve change in the Colbert Hollow Road Bridge replacement project eliminating a support in the middle of the creek. According to Brown, the change does not change the $796,218 cost of the project.

* Approve making a three-axle tag-along trailer surplus in order for its trade for another trailer.

* Approve annual $215.89 contract with Duplicator Supply Co. for a copier at Catoosa County Stormwater office.

* Re-appoint Robbie Fletcher to the Department of Family and Children Services Board.

* Re-appoint Sarah Roach to the Lookout Community Services Board for three-year term.

* Re-appoint Don Hutelin to the Public Works and Solid Waste Management Authority Board for a four-year term.

* Appoint Sarah Hutelin, Mona Allday, and Darlene Cutler to the Catoosa County Library Board for a three-year term. There were nine applicants including two incumbents Jim Price and Reba Clotfelter.

* Approve a resolution requesting that local legislators revise 1998 legislation originating from House Bill 1310 exempting those 62 and up earning less than $14,000 annually from paying ad valorem taxes by raising the maximum to $20,000.

* Approve a resolution requesting that local legislators revise 1998 legislation originating from House Bills 1309 and 1315 exempting those disabled earning less than $14,000 annually from paying ad valorem taxes by raising the maximum to $20,000. According to Chairman Bill Clark, if approved, the increase will cost the county approximately $60,000 and will not go into effect until December 2008. “We’ve been looking at the possibility of revising the tax structure and this seems to come nearer to helping more people.”

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