Commissioners discuss HOP services
Milam County Commissioners discussed the future of HOP Services in the county and moved forward with hiring a planning and development officer for the county during a meeting on Monday.
County Commssioners heard from Hill Country Transit District during the meeting about future funding for the service in the county.
The HOP serves nine rural counties as well as five cities in Bell County. Milam County currently has the highest ridership in the nine-county service area. In 2022 HOP provided 17,075 rides in Milam County. The total rides provided were 60,814 for the entire area. Milam County has eight vehicles in the county, which are housed in Cameron and Rockdale.
The HOP has provided transit services to rural counties for over 20 years with no payment required from any county for the cost of operation with revenue paid from federal and state grants and Medicare contributions.
Over the past few years grant money has reduced significantly but the Hill County Transit District has been able to provide services without contributions from rural counties because of CARE funds provided due to COVID.
Those funds are used and no longer available and the HCTD is facing a revenue shortfall in the 2023-24 fiscal budget. HCTD is proposing funding in the amount of $75,000 from Milam County with an additional contribution from Bell County of $47,033 and a reducation of services in the county. Approximately 34.3 percent of trips in Milam County go to Bell County.
It has been proposed that there be a cost sharing between the county and the City of Cameron, City of Rockdale, Cameron ISD and Rockdale ISD with each paying $15,000 for HOP services.
No decision was made by the commissioners. The tabled the topic until the cities and school districts could discuss and they will discuss more at the June 26 meeting.
Commissioners also approved a panic button at the Rockdale One Stop and approved adding a planning and development officer to the county staff.
Judge Bill Whitmire said the time has come for the county to add that position due to growth. That position would be in charge of drive-way applications, septic services, planning for subdivisions and variance requests. Commissioners approved opening up applicatons for the position.