Stimulus funds may buy minivan

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

More stimulus funds could be on the way for the City of McCook and would be used to purchase a second vehicle for the McCook transit system.

The McCook City Council approved Monday night the application for public transportation assistance for the city's transit system for 2009-10, with a total of $69,396 estimated from federal funds, $33,198 in state funds and the city providing $33,199.

At a presentation by Senior Center Director Sue Chipman, the council was told that the Nebraska Department of Roads requested needs from each transit system in the state for 2009-10, for items that could be funded with grants from the American Reinvestment Recovery Act of 2009.

Chipman said she requested an ADA minivan that could carry one wheelchair, plus computer and software.

This will be smaller van than the bus currently used and will help pick up riders throughout the day. The current 2003 Chevrolet 12-passenger bus would pick up riders at the peak times of 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift and can accommodate two wheelchairs at a time.

Even if the funds are awarded to the city, it may be a while before the mini van can be purchased; Chipman said Tuesday that the federal government hasn't yet approved an American-made mini van equipped with ADA features.

Chipman also pointed out to the council the increase of $41,803 in total costs of operation of the McCook transit system, compared to last year. This is due primarily to health care insurance costs, she said. The city also wants to add one part- time driver position, with total costs for that position, including insurance, at $26,050.

Total operating costs of the City of McCook Transit system for 2009-10 is $144,293 and provides rides to individuals within the city limits.

The council also approved Monday night a resolution that certifies that the city is considered capable of providing public transportation for its citizens.

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  • boy, it's too bad that entities that ACTUALLY create wealth, pay taxes, create jobs, etc, etc can't get any stimulus money, like small businesses. Only more government it seems.

    -- Posted by Justin76 on Wed, Apr 8, 2009, at 4:25 PM
  • I Know! Screw the elderly and handicapped. They contribute nothing to society and should be forced into exile!!!! ;)

    -- Posted by CastleInTheAir on Wed, Apr 8, 2009, at 5:07 PM
  • Yea, none of those nasty old seniors have ever contributed to anything in this area...right Justin? None of the businesses in this area were started by someone that might now be considered a senior citizen? Guess businesses in McCook were all started by young people that are now under the age of 30?

    Guess you will never grow old, and you can thank the good Lord that you don't need the handicapped equipment.

    I'll be sure to let you know Justin76 when I will be able to file for my homestead excemption in another 20 years!!!

    -- Posted by goarmy67 on Thu, Apr 9, 2009, at 10:41 PM
  • Screw the elderly...yeah that's exactly what I said you dolts. Last time I checked we have a handi-bus.

    We keep screwing the workers out of their money and raising taxes on people that make it and you old dimwits won't have any more money coming to you mailbox because the rest of us won't have a **** paycheck to take it out of!

    Pull your heads out of your behinds long enough to get some oxygen and it just might start to make sense!

    -- Posted by Justin76 on Fri, Apr 10, 2009, at 10:29 PM
  • Maybe some day you'll 'grow up', start caring a little less about yourself and your precious 'paycheck' and start realizing that helping others by putting food in a hungry child's mouth, helping people get back on their feet, and 'good heavens!' making life a little easier on our senior citizens and disabled neighbors is the right thing to do. Yes, it's easy to say "Not my problem, not my business"..."How does this benefit ME?" and whine about every little thing your hard earned tax dollars go to....especially in our self-absorbed capitalistic society. I guess I just never understood why people are so selfish and ignorant. If that means I have my head up my a** then so be it.

    -- Posted by CastleInTheAir on Sat, Apr 11, 2009, at 11:59 AM
  • rightsforall@q.com U,E,O UNITED ELECTRIONICS ORG

    JUSTIN76 THATS WHAT IS WRONG WITH MC COOK PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND OTHERS

    WE SPEND THE MONEY IN MCCOOK YOU DON'T AND WE DONT GET MUCH HELP FROM

    THE STATE OR MEDICADE OR OTHER I WILL BE WRITTING A FACT SHEET ON THE AND OTHER THINGS YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TALK THIS WAY WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HELP. NOTHING YOU JUST COMPLAIN . WHAT ABOUT THE SPEENDIN LIKE THE KESTON HOTEL AND THE CITY WASTING MONEY ARE YOU INVOLVED ON SPENDING .

    IS MAKE ME MAD ABOUT THE WAY ALL OF YOU ARE RUNNING YOUR MOUTH WITH OUT THINKIN THERE ARE OVER 1,000 OF US IN MCCOOK JUST TO LET YOU KNOW

    AND I AM GOING TO START TO STAND UP TO YOU AND OTHERS :} I WILL BE READING ALL

    COMENTS ON THE MC COOK GAZETTE

    -- Posted by rightsforall on Tue, Apr 14, 2009, at 9:58 PM
  • Wow Justin boy, you sure have a lot of hate in you for a "youngster". You need to get a life and thank the good lord you are not in need of special equipment for handicapped citizens. Have you considered that it is not just the senior citizens that use this special handicapped vehicles? Have you thought that the smaller van would in turn save gas and would be cheaper to operate than the bigger bus? Having 2 vehicles would extend the life of the bigger bus and it would in turn last longer? Oh hell no, all you want to do is run down the "older" generation. Get a life, sonny!

    -- Posted by goarmy67 on Wed, Apr 15, 2009, at 12:28 AM
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