Randall to seek memo of understanding on transit buses storage

This Google Streetview shows the old Bassett fire station where Western Kenosha County transit buses are stored.

Randall town Supervisor Lauren Fox will be negotiating a memo of understanding to govern the continued storage of Western Kenosha County Transit buses in the former Bassett fire station.

Two transit buses are currently stored in the building. But in January, Supervisor Randy Kaskin brought up several concerns about the arrangement, including transit drivers leaving the bay doors open, washing personal vehicles inside and parking personal vehicles in the town’s building. He also expressed concerns about filling up the building’s holding tank needlessly by washing buses inside rather than outside.

“It seems like the drivers don’t care about the taxpayers of Randall,” Kaskin said Thursday. “The taxpayers are footing the bill.”

On Thursday, Carolyn Feldt, who manages the transit system for Kenosha County, said the problems brought up have been addressed and that the transit system is very willing to forge a formal agreement. The agreement would outline what should and should not be done with the buses in regards to the building.

“Certainly writing up a letter of agreement is something we have been remiss in doing…” Feldt said. “We are very appreciative of the storage space because of the security it provides.”

Housing the buses in Randall, as has been done since 2007, is also a cost and time savings for the transit service, Feldt said. If the buses were not kept there, they likely would be housed at the Kenosha Achievement Center on the east side of Kenosha, meaning a driver would have to make a 30-minute trip just to get to Western Kenosha County. The transit system also houses one bus at the Twin Lakes Public Works facility and others at the KAC, which coordinates the buses’ maintenance and drivers.

Supervisor Bob Gehring had been designated as the town’s representative to the transit service. When problems arose, he said he talked directly to drivers. But Fox said it would be better to talk to the supervisors and volunteered to negotiate the memo of understanding and serve as the lead contract to the transit system.

“In my mind, the ridership certainly proves that having these buses out here is beneficial,” Fox said.

A motion to have Fox negotiate the memo of understanding passed unanimously.