A new name and a new manager. Oneida and Vilas Counties Transit Commission Friday hired a new Transit Manager to lead transportation service in those counties.
The goal is to provide regular transportation access across the counties to the main population areas. Friday, the Commission hired Jim Altenburg to lead the effort. Altenburg is a central Wisconsin native and most recently ran the bus service for the six school districts in Houghton, Michigan .He has a home in the Rhinelander area. He says his goal is to make a transit system so good it will be remembered...
"....taking care of our people was everything. There was no sacrifice. Taking care of these two counties and leaving a legacy of this transit system where they go back and say, 'government actually did do something good'..."
The effort will be known as the the Northwoods Transit Connection under the board direction of county board members and staff from Vilas and Oneida counties as the Transit Commission.
Commission Chair Erv Teichmiller says Altenburg has a good background for the job, including running transportation for six schools at Houghton, Michigan...
"....where he has been managing a large bus company. We were pleased to see his skills in the operational management for transportation for school districts and working around how that transportation takes place...."
Initially the Commission included Forest county, but the Forest County Board decided not to continue with the effort. The Commission reorganized with Vilas and Oneida counties with the hiring of a manager a key step in providing regular transportation services within the two counties.
