New buses aid OATS, Inc. in Providing Service for Springfield Area
June 16, 2009
Two new OATS buses have been placed in service for use by the seniors of Greene County, meaning more independence for riders.
Funds for the purchase were obtained through the Green County Senior Citizens Services Tax Fund, which exists by virtue of an April, 2005 vote by Greene County citizens. The voters approved a property tax levy of five cents per one hundred dollars of assessed value in order to provide services to Green County citizens aged 60 years and older.
An amount in excess of $1,500,000 per year accrues from this tax. These local funds paid the $76,344 cost of the buses.
Sheri Davis, Community Relations Coordinator at the Northview Center says “OATS service has given us the
Sheri Davis, Community Relations Coordinator at the Northview Center and Kirby Hatfield, Northview Senior Center Administrator
opportunity to get more people out of their houses, having fun and bettering their quality of life.” Northview Senior Center Administrator Kirby Hatfield adds “the buses bring in the otherwise homebound and we are finding new participants every day”.
The Greene County Senior Citizens Services Tax Fund has provided both equipment
and operating funds in recent years. Scott Kosky, Southwest Regional Director for OATS, says “We have been able to dramatically increase service to seniors in Greene County thanks to the generosity of the board. Their funding provides over 2,200 trips per month to medical appointments, essential shopping and the senior centers, providing seniors with increased independence. Their grant has given us the opportunity to build on the existing service funded by the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging and the Missouri Department of Transportation.”
The new buses, a 2009 Chevrolet minivan which holds up to 7 passengers and a 2009 Ford which holds up to 12 passengers, are both equipped for wheel chairs. They will be inspected by the members of the tax board at their meeting at the Southside Senior Center at 1:00p.m. Wednesday, June 17th. The public is welcome to attend the presentation where the buses will be on display.
In Greene County OATS service is funded, in part, through the Greene County Senior Citizens Services Tax Fund, the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging, Missouri Department of Transportation and rider donations.
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Two new OATS buses have been placed in service for use by the seniors of Greene County, meaning more independence for riders.
Funds for the purchase were obtained through the Green County Senior Citizens Services Tax Fund, which exists by virtue of an April, 2005 vote by Greene County citizens. The voters approved a property tax levy of five cents per one hundred dollars of assessed value in order to provide services to Green County citizens aged 60 years and older.
An amount in excess of $1,500,000 per year accrues from this tax. These local funds paid the $76,344 cost of the buses.
Sheri Davis, Community Relations Coordinator at the Northview Center says “OATS service has given us the
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| Sheri Davis, Community Relations Coordinator at the Northview Center and Kirby Hatfield, Northview Senior Center Administrator |
opportunity to get more people out of their houses, having fun and bettering their quality of life.” Northview Senior Center Administrator Kirby Hatfield adds “the buses bring in the otherwise homebound and we are finding new participants every day”.
The Greene County Senior Citizens Services Tax Fund has provided both equipment
and operating funds in recent years. Scott Kosky, Southwest Regional Director for OATS, says “We have been able to dramatically increase service to seniors in Greene County thanks to the generosity of the board. Their funding provides over 2,200 trips per month to medical appointments, essential shopping and the senior centers, providing seniors with increased independence. Their grant has given us the opportunity to build on the existing service funded by the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging and the Missouri Department of Transportation.”
The new buses, a 2009 Chevrolet minivan which holds up to 7 passengers and a 2009 Ford which holds up to 12 passengers, are both equipped for wheel chairs. They will be inspected by the members of the tax board at their meeting at the Southside Senior Center at 1:00p.m. Wednesday, June 17th. The public is welcome to attend the presentation where the buses will be on display.
In Greene County OATS service is funded, in part, through the Greene County Senior Citizens Services Tax Fund, the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging, Missouri Department of Transportation and rider donations.