Commissioners discuss transportation services

NORWALK — Huron County Commissioners might be merging the county's transportation services with Seneca-Crawford Area Transportation (SCAT). Commissioners on Tuesday met with SCAT Executive Director Mary Habig and Ben Capelle of Transit911. Huron County Transit is operated by Enrichment Centers for Huron County as part of their overall service corporation, according to its website. The county's transit service is funded in part by a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, Huron County Commissioners, agency contracts and passenger fares, the website says. According to its website, "Seneca-Crawford Area Transportation (SCAT) is a not-for-profit charitable organization that provides public transportation throughout Seneca and Crawford counties. Our mission is to serve the public by providing a safe, reliable, affordable, accessible and efficient transportation system." Transit911 is a full service consulting firm to public transit agencies seeking guidance on management, operations, finance, and planning, according to its website. In 2017, Crawford County joined with Seneca County to form what is now called SCAT, Habig told commissioners. "I think we can probably help you," Habig said. If Huron County merged its services with SCAT, it would get to appoint someone to the organization's board of directors so it would have a say in operations, Habig said. Huron County Commissioner Harry Brady said "I'm very happy about partnering with SCAT. I think it would be a great fit." He said partnering with SCAT could help the county expand on the services it provides and help more people. "What we want to see expanded is we have employers in the county that need people and people can't get there because they don't have a car, they don't have a license," Brady said. "We want to help people get to work on first, second and third shift." No action was taken on the issue. In other business, commissioners heard a pitch for funding from the Huron County Humane Society. The Humane Society's volunteer treasurer Jennifer Evans asked commissioners to consider funding the non-profit animal rescue group. "We are not simply about cats and dogs," Evans said. "We work with people 365 days a year." Evans said the organization deals with animal surrenders and also cases of abuse, neglect, hoarding and strays. She said expenses for the organization are up and donations fluctuate. "We need a new dependable funding source," Evans said. Evans and others from the humane society also made a pitch to Norwalk City Council for funding a couple of months ago. Norwalk Mayor Dave Light attended Tuesday morning's commissioner meeting in support of the animal rescue group. Commissioners ran out of time after Evans' presentation, but said they'd have her back at an upcoming meeting to ask her some follow-up questions.