(Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection - Public Meeting- Council Meeting)

VIENNA – Vienna City Council is expected to take action in the near future regarding the periodic renewal of a bus levy for the Easy Rider bus system which serves Vienna and Parkersburg.

During its first regular meeting of the year Thursday, council heard a presentation from the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority from authority General Manager Mike Keterson and attorney Andrew Woofter discussing the bus levy which goes before city voters every two years.

In the next couple of weeks, the MOVTA will be presenting a resolution for council to approve for the levy to be put on the May 12 primary ballot for voters in Vienna to approve to continue helping to provide Easy Rider bus service.

Similar action is scheduled to take place in Parkersburg for its portion of the levy.

No increase in the current rates is being sought, with all rates remaining the same, council was told. The levy renewal will not increase taxes and will maintain existing funding levels to keep public transportation available for the community.

The MOVTA receives about three-quarters of its funding from the levies in Parkersburg and Vienna, split about 70% to 30% between the two cities. During the last renewal in 2024, the levies were projected to raise $2,172,200.25 a year in Parkersburg and $870,217.53 annually in Vienna.

According to Kesterson, revenues from the authority’s parking garage remain stable and the authority recently renewed parking space leases with WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center. The revenue from both directly supports the cost of operating the bus system along with the federal operating grant of $1,152,376. Annual ridership remains steady with over 283,540 rides at the end of Fiscal Year 2025.

Kesterson told council the authority is looking at ways to maintain and improve service. One future consideration will be the opening of West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s branch campus on the former Ohio Valley University site and the potential need to serve students going to that facility when it opens.

Council also heard a review of employee benefits presented by Mark Schwendeman, from the Schwendeman Agency in Marietta. He said his agency is collecting data and will be submitting that to various carriers for consideration in February, aimed at meeting the city’s March budget deadline.

The next regular council meeting will be 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22.

Wayne Towner can be reached at wtowner@newsandsentinel.com