The Portage County Board of Supervisors agreed to a merger of the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) transportation services with the city of Stevens Point to better expand the pool of available resources through state and federal grants, as well as centralize access for users.

The merger, effective Jan. 1, 2018, will implement a centralized dispatch which would take all calls from the community elderly and disabled who need a ride. The dispatch would then direct the request to the best-suited service the city and/or county could provide.

“The possibility of the city and county partnering in this transportation endeavor to provide better service to not only residents of central Portage County, but all Portage County – and potentially further than that – to me is a no-brainer,” said Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza.

“Neither the city nor the county will need to invest any more money in transportation, but because we’re partnering we’ll be able to leverage more federal dollars and use that to enhance the system. It’s a great idea,” he said.

Some County Board members did express concern that the merger could inadvertently take business away from the private cab companies because the central dispatch may not direct the same number of calls as those companies are used to receiving.

During the resolution’s journey through the committee level, County Board Chair Phil Idsvoog said he had been told a redistribution of business volume wouldn’t happen. But then later heard it’s a possibility. So, he asked an ADRC representative for clarification.

“It is not the intent to take away business from any existing businesses that are already in operation in Portage County,” said Cindy Piotrowski, ADRC director. “However, if there is a bid for services, that company would have to be competitive in the process.”

Services are contracted out to the private cab companies to fulfill transportation requests and paid for through city, county, state and federal subsidies depending on the program the individual qualified for.

Dale O’Brian, District 19, asked if anyone would lose their job due to the merger.

“Nobody will lose their job,” Piotrowski said. “There is one (county) position that will take a substantial hit to pay because of the change in job duties. But all of the employees are being offered a position.”

For more information on transportation and other services available for elderly and disabled, contact the ADRC at 715-346-1401.