WOODSFIELD — Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Transit officials met with Monroe County commissioners Monday to discuss compliance issues that must be improved for the county’s public transit program to continue receiving federal funding.

Sara Walton, public transportation manager for ODOT Office of Transit, said the county has 20 compliance issues discovered in its latest Remote Technical Assistance Review Compliance Report. She said that is around double the amount they are used to seeing. The majority of issues are with the Monroe County Public Transportation’s financial policies and lack of local oversight. It was noted that nearly half of the issues have been resolved by county transit Director Densise Potts.

If the remaining issues are not corrected, the county could lose federal funding for the program that assists residents with rides.

“When your transit agency applies for funding, we sign a contract with you, the county commissioners. So, we as ODOT have an oversight responsibility which you as the county commissioners also have. We want to talk to you about the issues and how to work through them,” Walton said.

“We don’t want to take away from the county agency. Obviously we understand that you provide a critical, social service to folks in your county who may otherwise not have any access to transportation, may not have the ability to get to medical services or education, jobs or the grocery store.”

Wallton confirmed the county does have federal funds for the calendar year and will receive state funding next year.

“This time next year we have to make a decision whether or not you get funding for 2024. So this time next year we want to be in a position where we can say, yes, you’re ready to go back on federal funding and you’ll be compliant with everything and we’ll be comfortable with that,” she said.

Tim Maceyko, technical assistance review coordinator for ODOT, said the board’s oversight of the transit agency is lacking, which is a common problem among rural counties. He said commissioners need to receive updates from the agency in order to make suggestions and keep in the loop and ensure they are providing the right services to fill the residents’ needs.

Maceyko said the county agency’s finances are not doing well. He said it appears the agency is undercharging for contract revenue. Julie Schafer, director of state initiatives, said according to 2021 numbers, the cost per service hour is $37 while the county’s current contract rate is $24 per hour.

Other issues mentioned include lack of drivers, scheduling problems, and not having a standard hours of operations.

Schafer said they will assist the county with getting the policies in order and implementing them over the next six months. The deadline to improve the issues is set for Nov. 1; however, so long as the county is improving an extension can be provided for certain issues.