2008 Woodie Awards
Shuttle bus services in question
Rick Kambic/Editor in Chief
Issue date: 7/10/08 Section: News
An e-mail sent to H and H Shuttle Taxi Services Inc. has lead to questions about the future of shuttle bus services at Eastern.
Scott Harrison, the owner of the company, was contracted to provide shuttle bus services until his office received the e-mail on May 30.
"I just wanted to let you know that the university will not be letting bids out for university bus services for next year. I thank you for your past service," the e-mail from Monty Bennett read.
According to Harrison, his contract had expired after the original three-year term and a utilized three-year extension option. He is worried about the "university will not be letting bids out" part of the e-mail.
He said a re-negotiation would have been needed because the original contract did not have a second three-year extension option and compensation for gas expenses needed to be re-discussed due to price inflations.
"(Gas expenses) were set in stone for a three year contingency six years ago and gas went a little higher than I thought, but I've fulfilled my end of the bargain, which wasn't a problem," Harrison said. "And they just opted to send me an e-mail. They've not asked me to do another year extended."
However, university spokesperson Vicki Woodard said all she's allowed to disclose is that negotiations are in progress. She could not comment on whether bids were in fact submitted or requested of companies.
Dan Nadler, vice president of Student Affairs, was out of town upon being contacted, but he said students will have shuttle bus services offered in the fall. Nadler was not in a position to explain the process by which a company was chosen to negotiate with in light of the e-mail claiming bids would not be released.
Harrison said his company is not in contact with the university and has not spoken with anyone since receiving the e-mail.
According to the university budget, $243,334 was spent on contractual services for shuttle buses in fiscal year 2007. That is up from $226,307 in 2006.
"I got the feeling when I talked to the transportation committee after we got the memo that they were surprised," Harrison said. "I spoke with the chair(woman) of the committee, Karen Armour. She didn't know about this until I called her."
Armour said she is not at liberty to release any information and deferred comment to Nadler.
Harrison said he is willing to create his own bus route and charge students individual fees per ride because he feels it would be the right thing to do.
"If Eastern is going to completely throw it out the window, I'm all for it," Harrison said. "I have vehicles ready and it's not a problem, but I think (a route) is needed."
"(Ridership) has been growing," said Tom Noble, lead bus driver and supervisor of shuttle bus services. "Sometimes the busses have standing room only for the morning rides, and in the afternoons when school is letting out, we go to Wal-Mart and it gets real heavy."
Rick Kambic can be reached at 581-7942 or at rwkambic@eiu.edu.
Scott Harrison, the owner of the company, was contracted to provide shuttle bus services until his office received the e-mail on May 30.
"I just wanted to let you know that the university will not be letting bids out for university bus services for next year. I thank you for your past service," the e-mail from Monty Bennett read.
According to Harrison, his contract had expired after the original three-year term and a utilized three-year extension option. He is worried about the "university will not be letting bids out" part of the e-mail.
He said a re-negotiation would have been needed because the original contract did not have a second three-year extension option and compensation for gas expenses needed to be re-discussed due to price inflations.
"(Gas expenses) were set in stone for a three year contingency six years ago and gas went a little higher than I thought, but I've fulfilled my end of the bargain, which wasn't a problem," Harrison said. "And they just opted to send me an e-mail. They've not asked me to do another year extended."
However, university spokesperson Vicki Woodard said all she's allowed to disclose is that negotiations are in progress. She could not comment on whether bids were in fact submitted or requested of companies.
Dan Nadler, vice president of Student Affairs, was out of town upon being contacted, but he said students will have shuttle bus services offered in the fall. Nadler was not in a position to explain the process by which a company was chosen to negotiate with in light of the e-mail claiming bids would not be released.
Harrison said his company is not in contact with the university and has not spoken with anyone since receiving the e-mail.
According to the university budget, $243,334 was spent on contractual services for shuttle buses in fiscal year 2007. That is up from $226,307 in 2006.
"I got the feeling when I talked to the transportation committee after we got the memo that they were surprised," Harrison said. "I spoke with the chair(woman) of the committee, Karen Armour. She didn't know about this until I called her."
Armour said she is not at liberty to release any information and deferred comment to Nadler.
Harrison said he is willing to create his own bus route and charge students individual fees per ride because he feels it would be the right thing to do.
"If Eastern is going to completely throw it out the window, I'm all for it," Harrison said. "I have vehicles ready and it's not a problem, but I think (a route) is needed."
"(Ridership) has been growing," said Tom Noble, lead bus driver and supervisor of shuttle bus services. "Sometimes the busses have standing room only for the morning rides, and in the afternoons when school is letting out, we go to Wal-Mart and it gets real heavy."
Rick Kambic can be reached at 581-7942 or at rwkambic@eiu.edu.
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