Taylor County approves Big Ben Transit as community transportation coordinator ahead of June 11 state review

The Taylor County Board of County Commissioners on June 1 approved a resolution and memorandum of agreement designating Big Ben Transit, Inc. as the county's community transportation coordinator and authorized staff to submit the documents for a June 11 state commission review.

Melody, a county staff member responsible for transit matters, told the board the paperwork arrived late and the local coordinating board would meet only shortly before the state commission meets. "This is a very high turnaround and I apologize," she said, explaining the local coordinating board meeting is scheduled at 1 p.m. on the day of the state meeting and the county must have its documents available to the state board. Melody said the review committee (which included staff members named in the packet) found the Big Ben Transit materials in order and recommended approval.

Commissioners read and adopted a resolution selecting Big Ben Transit as the community transportation coordinator so the county could maintain eligibility for the state review. A motion to approve the MOA and the designation was seconded and approved by the board; the meeting record shows the board voted to adopt the resolution and the related agreement, though an exact roll-call tally was not recorded in the transcript.

Staff asked the board to help identify a veteran alternate for an upcoming meeting that will affect quorum for the state submission. The county will forward the approved documents to the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged for action at its June 11 meeting.

Next steps: staff will submit the MOA and related resolution to the state commission and follow up with the local coordinating board to provide required materials for the state presentation.