Wadena County Commissioners: Mid-day route nixed, separate coordinator/engineer position
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on October 19.
Sebeka Mid-Day Route
Friendly Rider Director Randy Jahnke discussed the Sebeka mid-day route. They currently go there in the mornings and afternoons. Jahnke mailed out 300 surveys, 200 were handed to businesses, and there was an online option available. Due to the small response and trip denials, they decided not to apply for the grant to create a mid-day route.
Commissioner Murlyn Kreklau would like to establish a regular service to Menahga that is affordable and leave it on the table for discussion.
Commissioner Bill Stearns explained they had tried establishing some regular routes previously and faced pushback and low ridership.
The state director said they won’t subsidize those routes as they didn’t meet rides per hour goals. That authority decides what routes are subsidized or not. If they establish routes that are not part of the operating plan, they won’t be subsided and the county has to pay.
If the county establishes a route, they can, but it would be at the taxpayer's expense. . .
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