Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

County Looking At Vans For KCTS

Cost For 8 Vans Would Have Topped $1 Million

On Nov. 15, the Kimball County Commissioners returned in the afternoon after the morning portion of their meeting for a session with the Kimball County Transit Service.

An update from administrator Christy Warner reported that KCTS has had 175 phone calls about the DIA trips, known as the Red Line. KCTS has 40 rides currently booked for DIA.

The board approved the advertising agreement form for the transit. Sponsorship levels begin at $5,000, which includes a logo on the website, $500 worth of checkpoint passes for distribution, social media recognition, and news releases. Other sponsorship levels begin at $10,000, $15,000, $25,000 and $50,000 and go up to $100,000.

Warner said, “It is a great opportunity to assist in recruiting employees from out of town. I hope to have a combination of Kimball business and qualify life ads to show why you might want to visit or even move to Kimball. The partnership program will be offered to local businesses first before we talk to out-of-town businesses.”

The purchase of the KCTS vans was the next order of business. The motion was made, subject to certification that the vans were 70% built-in America. The two Sprinter vans were to be purchased from Davies Coach in Colorado for $163,914 each.

Commissioner Carl Stander made the motion, which was seconded by Larry Engstrom. Both Stander and Engstrom voted for approval, while Flores abstained.

It was later determined that the Sprinter vans are not eligible for purchase for KCTS because they do not meet the requirement for Buy American. To qualify for the Buy American program, the vehicle must be 70% made in America.

A second motion dealing with the purchase of six more vans was subject to obtaining financing through the National Association of County and subject to leasing to Kimball County Transit.

The six 2023 vans are 10-passenger Ford 350 EL vans priced at $108,714 each, and two of the Ford vans will be wheelchair accessible. The total price for vans will be $652,284.

 
 
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