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In the April 14 Board of Commissioners meeting, the Board voted unanimously to expand the scope of the County's current Benton Area Transit project.
County staff will continue the work, directed by the Board in December 2025, to draft a plan for what it would look like if the County operated BAT instead of contracting out service delivery. In addition, the County will also draft a plan for a second scenario in which a contracted vendor still provides the service, but with an enhanced contract that includes standard payment terms and a higher degree of accountability and oversight.
The proposal to expand the project to include the development of two options for service delivery was put before the Board by Interim County Administrator Rick Crager. The option was discussed by the Commissioners and Public Works Director Gary Stockhoff before the vote was taken.
Having a ready alternate plan for service delivery is a best practice, and not having one puts the County at a disadvantage.
Crager explained to the Commissioners that having two fully developed plans at the ready would put the County in the best position to ensure high quality, accountable and compliant services without disruption. If for any reason a contracted provider could no longer provide service, the County could quickly implement an already-developed self-perform model to continue providing critical transportation services.
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