OTTUMWA -- The Ottumwa Transit Authority needs to pay money back to the state.
KTVO spoke with city administrator Joe Helfenberger regarding the money involved. The state department of transportation sent a letter to the agency saying that it needs money back after it learned that numbers of riders had been falsified.
According to Helfenberger, the OTA owes more than $168,846 and the state is withholding an additional $150,000 to the organization. Additionally, Helfenberger said the 10-15 transit owes $211,250 to the state funds. The state is also holding $137,000 from the group.
Still, the city is trying to find ways for the bus systems to operate on a day-to-day basis.
“We’re hoping to get the remaining issues quickly resolved to get federal funding restored and state funding for at least the basic services,” Helfenberger said.
In order to bring some stability to the OTA a new interim director has been named. Former Ottumwa police officer Mark Hagist has been appointed by Helfenberger. The city will start to look for a permanent replacement but for now Hagist brings some much needed stability.
“We had a great need of some supervisory leadership over there with the OTA and I think he’s filling the shoes very nicely.”
A permanent director needs to be approved by city council.
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