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While public transit buses are set to continue rolling in Weirton, it may not be under the auspices of the Weirton Transit Corp. for much longer.
As part of its regular meeting Wednesday, members of the WTC Board of Trustees voted to begin the process of dissolving the private non-profit organization which has overseen the community's bus service since 1989, with the goal of eventually transitioning it to control by the City of Weirton.
The move, which was approved by votes in favor by board Chair Flora Perrone, Vice Chair Frank Bohach and member Jim Carey, with no votes against, and members Mark Cummings, Brian Maley and Debbie Larch refraining from the vote, follows a recommended path offered by officials from the West Virginia Department of Transportation's Division of Multimodal Transportation Facilities.
City Manager Mike Adams noted Weirton Transit buses will continue to operate and the board will continue to meet during the process.
While not committing to any action, Ward 2 Councilman Chris Jonczak and Ward 4 Councilman George Ash were in attendance Wednesday, both saying they, too, recognize the importance of the public transit service.
Maley noted city council already provides funding for the agency's operations each year, along with in-kind services such as office space, utilities, mechanical work and more.
"Transit and the city have been joined at the hip since the beginning," Maley said, noting it also would provide more oversight of the transit service's financials, which has been a recent issue as a result of WTC owing approximately $125,000 in unpaid taxes, fees and penalties to the IRS.
While some on the board expressed concerns of having no guarantees, Mark Henne, a board representative from the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, explained this is realistically the only option remaining to keep the transit service viable in the long run.
"What do we have as an alternative?" Henne said.