Travis Garrett

The board meeting included a roll call, followed by the approval of the August minutes. Financial discussions covered August and September statements, noting operating expenses exceeded revenue by approximately $1.1 million in both months. Revenues were lower than projected due to the pending receipt of a grant and lower passenger fares. Labor and fuel costs were reported as down due to effective service changes. An insurance report detailed a recent bus tire incident resulting in injury and ongoing claim management, with discussions on the experience modification rate (eod). Operations reported an increase in service per hour for the fish system, indicating improvements compared to regional agencies, and noted fixed route ridership increased despite frequency reductions. The maintenance facility update was delayed due to federal funding issues. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the 2025 audit review by Subtle and Stoniker, which resulted in an unmodified (clean) opinion on financial statements and single audit reports. Auditors noted the adoption of two new accounting standards (GASB 101 and 102) and provided management recommendations, including documentation for large bank deposits and time sheets. A subsequent discussion addressed the sustainability of the current cash burn rate. Finally, an update on the procurement manual focused on modernization efforts in compliance with current federal requirements.

The meeting focused heavily on the upcoming safety levy set for the primary ballot. Discussions involved the necessary timeline for the commission to act on placing the levy on the ballot. Key stakeholders, including the county manager and finance director, conducted detailed financial reviews to understand current challenges and paths forward. The safety levy is critical, providing approximately 55% of the entity's revenue. Another major topic was the potential pursuit of a $21 million grant for a new maintenance facility, which is considered necessary due to the current facility being outdated, oversized, inefficient, and unsafe, requiring significant repair costs (estimated at $1.2-$1.5 million for concrete issues and $1.5 million for the roof). The logistics of constructing the new facility by flipping the current maintenance area with the bus parking lot were also discussed to ensure continued operations during construction. Furthermore, concerns were raised about potential federal funding reductions affecting 20% of operational income due to the FTA reauthorization status.

Discussions during the meeting covered financial updates, noting that the operating grant receipt is anticipated in early January, and overall operating expenses are staying under budget despite lower than expected fair revenues. The investment account showed positive returns, and gas revenue is expected to improve with a new fuel contract. The insurance report detailed numerous closed claims with a maximum payout of $2,500 per claim and noted zero workers' compensation claims. Ridership experienced a 12% decrease year-over-year in November, attributed partly to service changes and historically low ridership months. On-time performance for fixed and demand services remained steady, with demand services showing a 94% on-time rate. The major focus was the successful acquisition of a $21.254 million competitive federal grant from the FTA for a new maintenance facility, which represents the largest federal grant in public transit history for West Virginia. The grant allows for the relocation of the maintenance facility, replacement of the current facility with bus/employee parking, and sets the stage for future grant applications for admin upgrades and a new washbay. New business involved a presentation by RICK concerning opportunities to enhance transit success through multimodal development, including applying for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) study grant and potentially leveraging CMAC or Carbon Reduction Program funds to lower KRT's cost share for a new COA to 20%. The proposed access-based study for network redesign has a maximum budget of $350,000.

The regular monthly meeting included a review of the November 2025 financial statements, which showed operating revenues of $169,581 and expenses of $1,247,337 for that month. In Old Business, the Insurance Report indicated thirteen open claims and no employees on Workers' Compensation. The Operations Report noted a 12% decrease in passenger ridership compared to the previous year, alongside improvements in on-time performance for on-demand service. The Maintenance Facility update confirmed the receipt of over $21 million in federal funding for a new maintenance facility construction. New business involved a presentation from RIC regarding information, recommendations, funding options, costs, and timelines for a new COA. An update on the safety levy mentioned upcoming discussions with the Ambulance Authority and the Kanawha County Commission. The meeting concluded with an executive session.

The meeting commenced with roll call confirming a quorum, followed by the approval of the previous meeting's minutes, which included discussion regarding an annual review compensation adjustment. Key financial discussions covered accounts receivable, the pending operating grant, and October expenses exceeding revenues by $1.2 million, though investment account income is thriving. The insurance report noted zero current personnel out on claims. Operations reported a 4% decrease in October ridership compared to the previous year, attributing the change to service modifications and a state-mandated process change impacting SOAR activity, while noting strong performance in the micro-transit pilot zones. Additionally, discussions focused on the upcoming Poly Jolly Trolley service schedule, including a temporary relocation of the city center for two days due to a city zip line event. Maintenance facility updates included extensive ERP training across finance, payroll, HR, maintenance, and procurement modules. A significant portion of the meeting addressed the fuel task force contract bids, where staff recommended a firm fixed price contract structure over escalate/deescalate clauses for budgetary stability, despite favorable market trends favoring deescalation recently. Finally, an update was provided on the status of the maintenance facility grant application.