Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/190797
Sarasota News Leader October 11, 2013 Page 63 a no-brainer than putting the two systems boards to talk about some of the complexities of the process and search for common together." ground. Manatee County's current plan would "use a third-party potential operator as the mecha- "I think it is an opportunity for us to work nism to put the merger together," Patterson out an agreement on this and air some of this stuff out," Robinson said. "We may discover added. we can get past this stuff or that we can't." Another issue, she noted, is calculating how the regional transit agency would be funded Barbetta agreed. "We can decide at that meeting. We can put out an ITN (Invitation to by the two counties. Negotiate) to do both tracks, to explore the If the bus systems merge, the details have to merger and explore privatization. Either way, be worked out on a funding agreement, since we have to bring in someone independent to Sarasota County spends nearly three times take a look at it." more on its larger system. SCAT had about 3 million unlinked passenger trips in 2011, The Oct. 15 joint meeting of the Sarasota County Commission and Manatee County compared to MCAT's 1.6 million. Commission will be held at the Bradenton A JOINT MEETING Area Convention Center in Palmetto. Reid told the commissioners on Oct. 9 that Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker had offered to delay the Oct. 15 joint meeting until the two counties' staffs could iron out some of the issues. The Sarasota County commissioners also asked Reid if their staff could get an opinion from Federal Transit Administration representatives on whether a cost analysis would be required as the first step. "They want to have time to respond, and we Reid said he would ask staff to do so, "If they may not be in the same position," Reid said. are open." "That would delay the [Oct. 15] meeting." County staff did try to contact the federal Commissioner Christine Robinson said she agency before Wednesday's meeting but was wanted to hold to the meeting as planned unable to do so because of the federal govbecause it could be an opportunity for the two ernment shutdown. % The County Commission meets in regular session in May. File photo