LORDSTOWN Council votes for van grant
The grant would cover 80 percent of the cost, with the village footing the bill for the rest.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- Transportation for senior citizens and people with disabilities may become a reality here.
Village council voted Monday to apply for a $30,291 grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation to buy a handicapped-accessible van equipped with a wheelchair lift. The grant would cover 80 percent of the vehicle cost with the village kicking in $7,572 as its 20 percent local match.
Lordstown Evangelical Church will provide drivers for the van, according to village officials.
At a meeting earlier this month, some village officials expressed concern about violations of church and state restrictions if the van is used to take people to church, which had been discussed.
Mayor Arno A. Hill said further research discovered that the church could be involved providing drivers for the van but that the van can't be used to transport people to religious functions.
It could be used to pick up seniors and disabled people and take them to activities at the village administration building.
Meals provided by SCOPE are served in the community room of the building at lunchtime on weekdays. Other activities are conducted at the building during the week.
Would fill void: According to the grant application which is to be submitted to ODOT, there is no transportation service available to seniors or disabled people in the village except for taxi service or friends and family.
"Taxi service is located five to 10 miles from Lordstown residents, making the fares excessive and family members generally work during the daytime hours," it says.
Under the plan, the village will cover the costs of transporting senior and disabled residents within the village boundaries to meals and planned activities. Transportation to activities and appointments outside of the village or those conducted on weekends will cost a nominal fee which hasn't been set.