County to Cut Bus Rides for Veterans

SIGOURNEY – During the July 8 meeting of the Keokuk County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Daryl Wood discussed plans to suspend 10-15 Transit free bus rides for veterans, due to the high costs of the program. The program, funded by Keokuk and 9 other Southeast Iowa Counties, helps bring veterans to doctor appointments. According to Wood, the bus rides cost the counties $170,000 - $175,000 each year, $25,000 of which is from Keokuk. Wood stated he did not want to suspend the program, but that the counties couldn’t afford to sustain it. He stated that attempts to find state funding by Michelle Herman of the Veterans Affairs office had fallen short and that the bus service will be reduced to in-county travel only in August. There are plans by 10-15 Transit to establish a 501c3 and continue the program via community donations.