AUTHORIZING THE AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER TO PURCHASE A REAR ENTRY 2020 8-PASSENGER TRANSIT VAN USING DOT TRUST FUNDS

Background:   The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers transportation to Sauk County residents over age 60 and those over age 18 who are disabled.   The ADRC currently has 3 buses, one that has reached the end of its usable life for the department. The ADRC’s 2010 passenger bus currently has 149,605 miles (last trip 10/29/2020), and requires a number of repairs. The bus is going to be listed on auction.  

The vehicles are used to transport clients to medical appointments, to take day excursions and on weekly shopping trips. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the vehicles have been used to deliver groceries and medications for clients.

As Sauk County’s population ages, the population served by this service increases. Safe and dependable buses are needed to provide transportation. We are seeing an increase of wheelchair transportation needs – in 2018 we had 517 wheelchair legs, in 2019 we had 520 wheelchair legs, and in 2020 we have had 1,006 wheelchair legs through December 14, 2020.

The ADRC would like to purchase a new 2020 rear entry 8-passenger transit van. No additional levy funds will be used to purchase this van. The Department of Transportation has granted permission to use money from the ADRC DOT Trust Fund to go toward the purchase of this van. 

The ADRC currently has $78,935.55 in its DOT Trust fund account. The Trust fund is to be used to purchase or maintain vehicles for the transportation. The State Department of Transportation does not allow the ADRC to have more than $80,000.00 in the fund at any one time; any funds over $80,000.00 must be returned to the state.  ADRC will use the DOT trust funds to purchase the vehicle ($51,097.00), register the vehicle ($164.50) and add the ADRC logo to the vehicle ($800.00). The anticipated cost will be $52,061.50.

A request for bids was sent and the following bids were received by the ADRC:

Freedom Motors (MI) – no inventory available

A&J Vans (WI) - 2020 Ford Transit T350  $51,097.00