Ozark Regional Transit Prepares To Hire Executive Director

Nonprofit Public Transportation Group To Self Manage, Asks Local Governments To Contribute More

SPRINGDALE — Ozark Regional Transit board members will advertise for an executive director as they look to manage the organization’s own business by January.

“I’m really excited to make this transition,” said Lori Ericson, board vice chairwoman who represents Rogers on the board. “I think ownership is really important as we ask cities and counties to beef up what they give the system.”

Ozark Regional Transit will not renew its 2007 contract with First Transit, a management services company. The contract expires Dec. 31.

The move to take control comes at a time when transit officials have asked city councils and quorum courts across Northwest Arkansas for more money. Officials, including partners working for Northwest Arkansas Council, have talked with city officials and justices of the peace in Benton, Carroll and Madison counties.

By The Numbers

Increased Support

Counties and cities are considering money for Ozark Regional Transit as the group attempts to take over its management services and increase services to riders. Governments are being asked to contribute 20 percent of revenue from the new state highway tax. Cities confirming their commitment are:

• Bentonville: $123,000 in 2013 to 125,757

• Fayetteville: $296,000 in 2013 to $300,000*

• Rogers: $123,000 in 2013 to $199,367

• Springdale: $211,000 to 248,646

  • Fayetteville is the only city to give more than the requested 20 percent.

Source: Joel Gardner, Ozark Regional Transit Executive Director

In Benton County, the bus service asked justices of the peace Tuesday to increase its annual subsidy from $15,000 a year to $257,777. In Washington County, officials are asking for $245,940, up from $24,000 this year. The requested money is 20 percent of expected revenue from the new state highway sales tax.

Joel Gardner, the executive director contracted through First Transit, plans to meet with representatives of cities, including Tontitown, Pea Ridge and Lowell. On Wednesday, bus transit proponents met with Centerton officials, he said.

Some city officials are endorsing public transportation, especially after the transit board announced plans to change management and take charge of its own promotion, expansion projects and employees, Ericson said. Fayetteville officials, for example, have agreed to pay $300,000, which is above the requested 20 percent, Gardner said.

In the past, many entities pulled away from Ozark Regional Transit after clashes with Phil Pumphrey, the former executive director, Ericson said. Gardner replaced Pumphrey about 10 months ago.

The shakeup, and plans to take over management, has encouraged officials to pay more for better services, Ericson and Gardner said. The nonprofit organization can cut its costs from salaries and operations by about half and have an edge on gaining the trust of local partners, Gardner and Ericson said.

Ericson said she looks forward to having more local control.

Last month, the board reduced First Transit payments by $31,000 a month after First Transit moved Richard Grandon, who had been operations manager, without replacing him. The operations manager duties have been divided among staff.

The application period for the executive director position will open in the next couple of days and close by Nov. 15, Gardner said.

The executive director will work for the Ozark Regional Transit Board and oversee all transportation-related operations, advocate for transit and multimodal transportation service; and build effective community relationships, according to the preliminary job description released during a meeting Thursday.

Once the executive director position is filled, the board plans to allow that person to hire a chief financial officer and operations manager. Gardner said he plans to apply for the executive director position.

Taking over its own management will help public transportation grow, build partnerships and increase funding, Ericson said.

“Local ownership would be better,” she said. “We feel like we’ve kind of grown up, and we need that local management.”

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