Staying with the story
The Springfield News-Sun has kept you up to date on this story since it first broke in August of 2014. We will continue to follow any developments.
The Logan County Commissioners this week approved a new long-term transportation plan for the county on the heels of the financial collapse of the previous service provider last fall.
RTC Industries took over operations of Transportation for Logan County in August from Tri-County Community Action after the mismanaging of funds left the non-profit hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt.
Part of the debt comes from $300,000 worth of possible illegal mortgages taken out on the transportation center.
The federal government is disputing those debts with Liberty National Bank in the U.S. district court, contending that Tri-County never had the right to take the mortgages out.
The transportation plan approved by the commissioners Tuesday largely addressed the growing need to serve seniors in the community.
Thirty-five percent of Logan County is currently 65 or older.
The plan also addresses transportation for people with disabilities.
RTC continues to provide transportation and other services for people with disabilities and added TLC last August.
The transportation service provides rides to work, doctor visits and the grocery store for people who don’t have other means of transportation.
The transportation plan states the agency’s main goals in the next five years are to increase efficiency, maximize resources and avoid duplication of services.
Russ Foust used to work for RTC and became the supervisor of TLC this year. He said he was able to keep all of the agency’s employees and added that having the routes established helped the transition.
“The transition has been smooth,” Foust said. “There’s some issues with the building, I guess. We are not sure what will happen to the building we are currently in.”
Foust said he does not know what will happen with the mortgage dispute, but he’s working with the county commissioners to prepare for anything.
“We’ve talked about us moving into the armory temporarily if we have to,” Foust said. “That’s an option at this point.”
Foust said no matter what, services will continue. That’s good news for riders like Dianna Powell. Powell’s car broke down four months ago, forcing her to use the service to go work.
“It’s been a blessing,” Powell said.
Driver John Leiss has been working for the agency for nine years and said he keeps driving because he fills a need in the community.
“Employers need their employees there, and we have to get them there because they have no other means of transportation to get to work and wherever they want to go,” Leiss said.
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