The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Transit's closure creates concern
Bus system a life line for many senior citizens and disabled residents
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 19, 2007
When the weather is warm and dry, 75-year-old Milan resident Shirley Searfoss usually rides her scooter nearly two miles to the Kroger on West Main Street for groceries. Sometimes she drives her van, but that's becoming more difficult to manage.
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During the winter, when it's too cold or snowy to ride her scooter, Searfoss relies on Milan Public Transit to get to the grocery store and doctors' appointments.
She thinks of the bus as a "security blanket."
"I know if I need it, it's there," Searfoss said. "I always thought if the day comes I can't drive anymore, I'll always have Milan Transit."
That may no longer be the case.
During a work session last week, Milan City Council OK'd plans to remove from the upcoming budget the city's $95,000 subsidy to Milan Public Transit. The cut would likely force the bus system to close its doors soon after the end of the school year.
Elderly and disabled riders who ride the bus say they will be at a loss and stranded.
"I'll be devastated," said Searfoss, a 1949 graduate of Milan High School who now gets by largely on Social Security after retiring from work as a bookkeeper for a car dealership. "I don't know what I'll be able to do."
Saline resident Allen Warner, 61, has Down syndrome and lives with his 77-year-old sister, Betty Harris. Warner takes the bus most weekdays from and to work through Services to Enhance Potential in Ann Arbor. Harris said the bus service allows her and her brother a higher level of independence.
"It's going to be quite a burden if we have no bus," she said.
Audrey Sue Salisbury acts as a caregiver for her 76-year-old neighbor, Virginia Schmeemilch, who suffered a stroke. They ride the bus at least twice a week for groceries and doctor's appointments. Salisbury said losing their source of transportation would be devastating.
"I think it's just a crying shame they're talking about taking it away," she said. "The drivers are very caring people. It's a great service for Saline to have."
Milan Public Transit Interim Director Max Hall said there are hundreds of stories like these.
"(Closing Milan Public Transit) is going to ruin a lot of people's lives," Hall said.
In the past year, the local bus system provided more than 36,000 rides for Milan and Saline residents, Hall said. Last month, it recorded 120 senior and 90 disabled rides in the city of Milan and more than 400 rides were provided Saline residents.
But its value is not fully revealed in statistics alone, Hall said.
"We have a real impact on people's lives," he said. "It's comforting for our seniors and disabled to know a ride is there if they need it."
Hall believes that closing Milan Transit, which was created in 1986, will be the final chapter on the department.
"Once the service is gone, it's gone," he said. "We'll never get it back."
Last Friday, in a last-ditch effort to discuss available options with city officials, Hall submitted to Milan City Administrator Dan Bishop about $80,000 in proposed cuts to the transportation system's budget.
"I'm not opposed to making the cuts where we need to to keep the service alive," he said.
Among Hall's suggestions was reducing the number of drivers from six to four by subcontracting Saline rides to the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority or People's Express, which already has taken over service to Saline schools and riders with special needs.
He also proposed eliminating the department's uniform replacement fund and cutting $3,000 for printing tickets, which could be done in-house. He hopes the Milan City Council will consider alternatives to shutting it down.
"I would really like them to not rush into a decision," he said. "They need to take their time and be careful with this one. I don't think doing what's best for the city means cutting the transit."
But Milan's city administrator was not optimistic Monday night about any sudden salvation for the transit system.
"We just don't have the money," Bishop said.
Saline officials are exploring alternatives for residents in the event Milan Public Transit shuts down, said City Manager Larry Stoever, but there is no easy answer.
"There's a lot of concern on the council to find a solution," he said, "but we're in the process of figuring out how to reduce our budget and that makes it difficult."
For Searfoss, Milan Transit represents her last stronghold of independence.
"I'm very independent. I want to take care of myself if I can," she said. "But without Milan Transit, I may have to move into an old people's home, and I'm not ready for that. I'm too young."
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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