Edmunds County Tribune -

The Edmunds County Public Transit committee had a meeting on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 in Ipswich.

The meeting was held to assess public transit and human services transportation needs within Edmunds County.

Ipswich Finance Officer Amy Jaenisch and Roscoe Mayor Leland Treichel attended the meeting and admitted they did not know what was available for local residents.

Kathy Holman of Sisseton, director of Community Transit, Inc. said the county vehicle is housed in Bowdle, but is not used often now. In the past it would make stops in Ipswich and Roscoe as necessary.

Holman said public transit could be available to local resident of all ages. Holman and Terry Hoffman, director of Watertown Area Transit, said the first step would be a needs assessment survey.

Public transit could be used by senior citizens to get rides to stores or medical facilities or by children to get rides in town.

Holman said there is federal matching funds for the program.

Jaenisch and Treichel said they would assist with the survey to see if there is interest.

Community Transit is required to have public meetings every five years. The area committees are undergoing consolidation plans and 15 counties will join.