The Coweta

County Board of Commissioners expressed skepticism over a

proposal Tuesday morning to provide a public transit

system for the county's elderly and handicapped

residents.

The

proposal, entitled 5311 Paratransit Program, would

provide buses for the county's residents most in need of

transportation, funded through a series of state and

federal grants and county funds.

The

commissioners did not doubt that some sort of program is

needed, but questioned whether this is the right program.

"I'm

well aware that there is a need for medical patients and

senior citizens to have a system to take them to get

groceries or to the doctor. But we need to be make sure

to know what our financial involvement is," said

Commissioner Robert Wood..

Michael

Sabine, who oversaw a test program in Lamar County, said

the costs to that county were only a couple of hundred

dollars a year.

"Your

county is a lot larger, so it would probably cost you a

couple of thousand after the grant money is

provided," he said.

The program

provides a five-year grant for equipment such as buses,

but only a one-year renewable grant for operations costs.

The operations cost concern Commissioner Vernon

"Mutt" Hunter.

"We

could start this program and then be left hanging with a

program that could cost us $400,000 if the grants aren't

renewed," he said.

If a

program was started and then stopped, Commissioner Jim

McGuffey said the political shotgun would be pointing at

the commissioners and not the state officials.

The

commission decided to table further discussion on the

issue until firm financial data is provided.

<!--

-----------