By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

When next year rolls around Crawford County residents will have another way to get from one point to another.

Seneca-Crawford Area Transportation (SCAT) Executive Director Mary Habig attended Tuesday night’s Bucyrus City Council meeting to discuss coming changes to local transportation opportunities. SCAT, which is assuming responsibility for public transportation from Crawford County Council on Aging, will begin serving county residents on Jan. 2.

“I’m excited. I’m ready to start us off and get us going,” Habig told the council members in attendance.

There are two drivers and two office workers currently hired for the Crawford County portion of SCAT, but Habig said they will employ 10 people by the end of the year. Tamara Lynch is the office manager for Crawford County.

The local branch of SCAT will be located at 107 N. Poplar St. in Bucyrus, though Habig noted they will have park-out vehicles in Galion and possibly Crestline. SCAT is still waiting to receive seven vehicles from the county as part of the agreement to take over public transportation.

“We take people anywhere they want to go,” Habig added.

Fares will depend on where the rider is going and riders must be a member of Crawford or Seneca counties. Council on Aging will continue to provide transportation services for seniors and those with disabilities.

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Council passed five pieces of legislation: an appropriation for the safety forces, transfers in the fire department fund, an income tax ordinance amendment, acceptance of the County Budget Commission rates and amounts, and approval to take part in internet auctions.

In Service/Safety Director Jeff Wagner’s report, he noted that Master Renovations, Inc, of Orrville, Ohio, was awarded the bid for the city hall roof, which came in under budget and included a 20-year warranty.

The compost site will remain open through the second week in January. The hours for the site are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.