By Taylor Hale

Associate Editor

PORTAGE COUNTY – Stevens Point Transportation Commission members approved a Dec. 14 motion that would offer refunds to Whiting and Plover for their paid share and usage of the city’s public transportation system.

The refund stems from the city receiving federal CARES Act funding due to COVID-19.

“The reason is because of the pandemic, the transportation division received CARES Act funding that covers 100 percent of the local shares cost,” said City Transportation Superintendent Susan Lemke. “We only needed local share dollars for one month, which was January, and beyond that, the CARES Act was put in place.”

Typically, Plover pays a portion of the local share for the use of city buses at Crossroads Commons, and Whiting for the use of busses throughout the village.

Whiting paid $26,528 for their share and could receive $23,460 in refunds. Plover paid $19,967, but could receive $17,158 back.

City leaders hope that the additional funding will be able to help the villages during COVID-19. Lemke initiated the idea for the refund.

CARES Act funding in 2021 will also see reduced costs for Plover and Whiting’s use of Stevens Point transportation services.