Plans for FCTA’s acquired property discussed by Board

Fulton County Transit Authority (FCTA) Board met in a special called session Aug. 22, at noon, with Executive Director Kenney Etherton, Chairman David Moss, and members Sandra Bellew, Carol Parker, Garrett Hutchins and Mike Gunn present.

Etherton reported, “We have made it for now. This has been a rough month, to say the very least. The state has been slow in the cash flow for reimbursement. We received our $130,621 for the GRITS, which is our Medicaid payment. This allowed us to get through two payroll periods, getting major bills paid, the lights on, and fuel in the vehicles. We are waiting on the State’s grant payment of $220,000. Once we receive it, we will be able to get caught up to where we are.”

“By them being late, we missed some discounts on insurance payments. I stayed on them last week very diligently about getting us paid. According to Transportation Delivery, we are the first one to have our Invoice to their office, the first one inputted, first to have all information. As of Aug. 21, after some phone calls to Legislators to see if they would be able to help us get things moving and rolling, we are in the system now and hopefully in 48 to 72 business day hours, we would have our Federal Invoice money,” continued Etherton.

Etherton reported, “It has been some lean times. Some of our other payments have been a little late coming in. Both Senior Centers, Fulton and Hickman County, where we deliver meals, have been slow and late in paying, because their money is not flowing through as well. This is the beginning of the new fiscal year and we are waiting to get all the paperwork done. This is not the first time we have been here, it’s just not where we like to be. We spent most of the excess contract revenue purchasing new vehicles. Our fleet is in good shape. We’ll move forward and we will get caught up.”

The Board approved July bills, and minutes from the last meeting.

Etherton attended the KPTA Conference and reported the Fulton County Transit Authority received an Outstanding Marketing award with public transportation. Public transportation numbers are higher than our Medicaid, because we are transporting more public than medical for once, he said.

“We are the only one in the state with higher public numbers than medical,” Etherton said.

Mark Davis presented a Personnel Policy update.

“We went through the personnel policy pretty extensively last month, with not many changes. Attorney Becky Biehslich looked over the policy and there were two issues she saw. One was in regard to vacation days not paid if an employee leaves in not good standings. She confirmed that is legal as long as it is stated in the policy, which it is. Likewise, she had a similar question about jury duty pay, and whether or not the Authority was obligated to pay the difference between the employee’s normal wage and what the wage for jury duty. Again, you are not required to do that, as expressly stated in the policy,” Davis said.

“She did have us clarify one issue on personal time. As you recall, we changed how personal time can be used. Biehslich had us add a statement that this new policy is in compliance with the Section 135 about absences and outlining the process of notifying your supervisor,” continued Davis.

“The only other change was in the section on harassment. There was a statement that says employees encountering harassment should tell the entity in person that their actions are inappropriate and offensive. She recommended we take that out. She felt that could put that individual in a bad situation,” Davis stated.

The Board approved the changes to the Personnel Policy to take effect in September.

“The Authority is a recipient of state and federal funds and subject to the provisions of Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964. This means the Authority has to assure the state that no person is discriminated against based on color, race, age, disability, gender, and sexual orientation. Basically, what this says is you treat everyone the same. The Board last approved the current policy in 2014. Updates have made to bring it up to date in a completely different format. We have to have this document in order to continue to receive federal funds,” Davis said.

Davis presented the FCTA Procurement Policy Update, which revised the purchasing policy. The document was last updated in Feb. 2018. There have been changes in the KRS. The Authority already does what is required, but were not stated.

Etherton then reported on the property and building construction plan.

“The Fulton County Fiscal Court voted on Aug. 12 to surplus property at the Transit Authority, back to the Transit Authority. This will allow us to move forward in getting money reallocated with the process we started to get the property next door. We have a rough plan for what we want to do with the building. We have $450,000 allocated already and could be able to add on to the building across the way, and use this property, with no federal money, to be used for employee parking and possibly storage,” Etherton said.

Etherton reported, “We are currently required by our contract with our Medicaid to perform DOT Physicals on all our drivers. This is above and beyond state statutes requires. Our Medicaid broker can not require us to do anything that is above and beyond in the state statutes. The DOT Physicals cost $6,000 - $8,000 yearly. I propose taking that out of the contract because of the cost. The state is now asking to be taken out.”

Paul Maxwell reported on traffic at the Farmers Market.

“Safety has become a concern. Drivers leaving the market are not paying attention and pulling out in front of Transit Authority drivers,” stated Maxwell.

Board members agreed the Farmers Market is in a great location and the Board doesn’t want it to shut down, however they are concerned about the safety, and will discuss it with Farm Bureau and the Extension Office, about looking for other options beginning in the Spring.

Vehicle updates include five cutaways, two transit wagons, and eight SUVs have been ordered.

The meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.