Barton County officials approved standing up for a local transportation program that has garnered state attention.
Monday, the Barton County Commission approved preparing a letter of support for Sunflower Diversified Services in its effort to seek a Kansas Department of Transportation grant for the local bus program.
Sunflower is seeking a little over $400,000 in the grant that would fund the local program.
It does not receive county funding, it was noted.
Sarah Krom, representing Sunflower, noted that the program received a grant for $277,000 last year and the increase is being sought because it operated outside of the grant for 16 weeks.
She added the agency provides transportation to all of the Barton County cities and to its coverage area.
According to information from Sunflower, “transportation was provided to 49,048 riders covering 309,455 miles from January 2009 through December 2009.”
The grant is being sought for Fiscal Year 2012, which begins this summer.
Also Monday, the commissioners approved the annual designation of official depositories for county funds, utilizing its regular stipulations; and accepted a bid of $1,550 per month from Starbrite Window Cleaning for janitor services for the county office building at 1408 Kansas.
While there were other bids, they did not include insurance or bonding, it was noted. The manner in which this bid is sought will be reconsidered for next year, it was added.