A group met Tuesday in Rhinelander and from that meeting could spring more transportation options for the Northwoods.
In June of this year, retired DOT executive David Lowe was brought on board as a consultant to get a Transit Commission "moving" for Oneida, Vilas and Forest counties. As far back as 2008, organizations have been studying the idea of having some kind of service between the larger communities in the three counties. The Oneida County Aging Department requested funding to establish a commission. The group Tuesday chose the name of Northwoods Transit and worked on the charter to present to each county board. The three counties have agreed to form the transit commission and appointed two county board members to the group. The county's Department on Aging representatives are also on the commission.
Lowe says the idea is to use the services already available...
"....and use the Oneida county buses as a core to start with connections with Eagle River and Minocqua and also run an Eagle River-Minocqua connection probably through Vilas county. Forest county would run daily into Rhinelander and weekly to Iron Mountain...."
While the three county boards have approved the concept of the joint venture, Lowe says the county boards still need to approve the charter for the Northwoods Transit Commission..
"....once we're done with this today and the charter is approved, bylaws are approved. the officers are approved, then we go for it. I will have for all of you a summary of what we have planned for 2015...."
The newly-formed commission will meet again on January 6. Vilas and Oneida county boards will meet in January, while Forest county meets again in February. Erv Teichmiller from Vilas county was named commission chair while Bob Mott from Oneida county was named vice-chair.
Lowe says they've already received $297,000 for fiscal 2015. He says they would like to have a Director in place by April 1.
