HUNTLEY – A vote to continue funding the Village of Huntley’s Senior Transportation Program will be brought before the Village Board at its March 27 meeting.
Funding for the program is scheduled to be depleted by mid- April, but Village Trustee and Sun City resident Ronda Goldman said it is very likely the board will vote to continue funding it through the end of 2014.
Terms were shaped during a Committee of the Whole meeting on March 20. Though board members had different amounts in mind when it came to setting the program’s annual budget, Village President Chuck Sass said the amount should be $10,000 – the same annual funding the village gave to Grafton Township before it stopped service to Rutland Township riders.
The program was developed as a temporary solution, following that service cut last November. The program provides $2 round trip rides within Village limits to seniors through Route 47 Taxi Transportation. In the meantime, Village officials are looking for alternative ways and sources to provide rides for seniors. Money left over by year’s end could potentially go back into the village.
One hole in the village’s program is serving handicapped riders, as Route 47 does not currently have a vehicle with a lift to carry passengers in wheelchairs. Route 47’s business development manager Curtis Muldrew said the company is currently researching the costs and feasibility of acquiring such a vehicle.