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County gets DOT building funds Becky Smith, director of Clay County Transportation, reported to commissioners recently that the check for $501,093 had been received from the state for construction of the new Clay County DOT building. Commissioners thanked Smith for all her hard work. "Thank you and your staff for what you do for this county," Commissioner Dwight Penland stated. Smith graciously thanked Commissioners, quickly telling commissioners that she has a great team of drivers. Smith pointed to a recent visit by a consulting firm sent by the state to look over Clay County's public transportation department. "They spent a week with me, interviewing me and my employees," she commented. Smith proudly reported that the consultants were very impressed with the drivers and the excellent customer service. "They would like to 'clone us' was one of their comments," she told commissioners. "And if anything, we had too much customer service. They were blown away with our drivers and our level of customer service." "I have drivers that care about the people," Smith added. For an example, Smith shared the story of one driver who had taken an elderly lady out of town to a doctor's visit and they had to end up spending the night. And when the passenger didn't have money to pay for the hotel the driver paid for her room. Smith said that is just one example of many instances when her drivers have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Smith told commissioners that the consultants were looking to see if the department is in compliance with all the federal guidelines required as part of the federal grants they receive each year. The consultants were also evaluating the possibility of combining public transportation for Cherokee and Clay Counties. Smith said the consultants will also spend a week in Cherokee County evaluating their transportation department. Consultants were evaluating Cherokee and Clay County public transportation services as part of the consideration of combining services for the two counties. Smith said because Clay County is getting a new DOT facility and Cherokee County DOT does not have it's own facility, that if the decision is made to combine the two DOTs the central location would likely be in Clay County. Smith added that the administration part would be handled out of the new Clay County office with vans and dispatch still located in both Clay and Cherokee Counties. Smith told commissioners that the consultants were "totally impressed" with County Manager Paul Leek and his understanding of public transportation. "They came back (following an interview with him) just raving about Paul. They said he was more knowledgeable and supportive of public transportation than most county administrators," she shared. The commissioners once again thanked Smith and her staff for their hard work and dedication. In general house keeping, Smith asked commissioners to approve a resolution for a grant application she is apply for in the amount of $129,734. Smith said this grant will be for next year but will be the same amount as the grant received for this fiscal year. These grant monies, Smith explained, help pay for administrative costs and insurance, and will also help purchase two new lift chairs.
Smith told commissioners that she is also in the process of applying for an additional grant for this current fiscal year. Smith explained that the Federal Government has made grant funds available for rural public transportation and this grant does not requiring matching funds. The grant is for elderly and disabled transportation and for rural general public transportation, where the county pays 90% and the passenger pays 10%, she explained. "This grant should be a done deal unless something strange happens," Smith commented. The grant would be received in January and must be spent by the end of the 2006-2007 fiscal year in June, she added.
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