Livingston County ratifies bus contract change, authorizes temporary agreement with Futures Unlimited

The Livingston County Board on Oct. 16 ratified termination of the contract with Shore Bus (referred to in materials as “show bus”) and authorized a temporary contract with Futures Unlimited to maintain transit service while the new operator establishes staffing and pricing.

Jack Vietti, chair of the Rules, Legislation, Veterans and Community Services Committee, introduced a resolution to ratify termination of the previous vendor and to authorize a short-term contract with Futures Unlimited. Vietti said the temporary agreement is intended to give Futures Unlimited a few months to operate on a provisional basis while the county and the provider finalize hourly cost structures and hire drivers.

The committee and board said the temporary arrangement is likely to last about three months, although the resolution did not specify a precise duration; board members said the matter will return to the board for a full contract approval that will extend through the state fiscal year, and later for the July 1–June 30 contract period if approved.

Board members asked staff for clarification about branding and staffing. Vietti said the service will be branded “Futures Connections” on the bus decals and that Futures is still hiring drivers; three buses require commercial driver’s licenses and the vendor must complete IDOT‑approved training for new hires. Vietti and other board members said a temporary contract is intended to protect both the county’s and the provider’s interests while revenues and costs are reconciled.

The board carried the resolution on a roll-call vote. Vietti said staff will return with a follow-up contract for the remainder of the fiscal year if the temporary arrangement proceeds as planned.

The board also heard that the county’s housing authority property in Chatsworth is on the market and that a veterans’ lunch will be held Nov. 9 at the Elks Club.