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SATA service expands into Shiawassee Township
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008 10:35 AM EDT
OWOSSO - The Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency Owosso-Corunna service zone soon will expand.
The SATA board Tuesday night accepted Shiawassee Township as a part of the Owosso-Corunna zone as of Oct. 1.
In the same action, the board approved Middlebury Township to become part of the same Owosso-Corunna zone, also at the beginning of October. The SATA action will only take place if Middlebury Township approves a SATA request for local funding at its meeting tomorrow night.
SATA's action this week means Bancroft and Shiawassee Township residents, as of Oct. 1, can book rides into Owosso or Corunna.
The city of Perry, which approved financial support for SATA during its August meeting, may address that issue again next week. The council's approval was vetoed at the end of August by Perry Mayor Ross DeLau, who was absent from the previous meeting.
The veto makes the council's action null and void, DeLau said.
“The city can't give money to anyone without a contract,” DeLau said. “I will give my reasons at the next council meeting. It's all for legal reasons. I'm not against SATA.”
The Perry City Council will meet Sept. 16.
DeLau said Perry appropriated money to SATA in the past without a contract, but not the approximate $4,300 the council approved last month.
SATA Board representatives David Ray and Mark Landers said they anticipate an attempt to override the veto.
“The fact that the cost per rider in Perry has decreased shows good management by SATA,” Landers said.
A new record for August ridership was established with more than 7,000 rides provided during the month. That number exceeds August 2007 totals by more than 800 rides. The total SATA ridership for the last year approached 100,000 rides, also a new record.
