POMEROY–Commuter service to the Lewis-Clark Valley was reinstated Monday, May 11, Director Rachel Anderson announced at the Garfield County Transportation Authority (GCTA) meeting May 18. There are two to three regular commuters being served with this route.

To add protection, a Plexiglas shield separating the driver from the riders was installed in one bus. However, they have not had success in locating more Plexiglas for the other vehicles. A second vehicle that they are running has a shower curtain that has been fashioned into a shield.

Drivers have been supplied with masks and gloves, if they choose to use them. About 90% of the drivers have been using masks according to Anderson. She also asked the County Commissioners if shields should also be purchased for the office.

Commissioner Justin Dixon suggested that the desks should be rearranged and spaced farther apart, and that shields could be ordered from the same company that the courthouse used for their shields. County offices will be allowed to open to the public under Phase 3, and preparations are already underway to have extra protections in place. Commissioner Wynne McCabe stated that this will be “part of the new normal” for them.

Anderson reported that the CARES Act funding provided the GCTA with $58,100 for any COVID-19 related expenses. She added, however, that the GCTA has suffered a loss of $4,000 in sales tax revenue.

The Washington State Auditor’s Office Accountability Audit is now completed at a cost of $3,300, with only one issue cited with the credit card policy. The credit limit and purchase limits required changes, and receipts must match the billing and be paid within a specified amount of time.

The GCTA has also been made aware of a fraudulent unemployment claim for one of their employees. Anderson stated that she has heard that the school district has also been notified of 12 fraudulent unemployment claims. The issue has been reported to the Sheriff’s Office, and appears to be the work of identity thieves.

The next meeting of the GCTA will be June 15, 2020, at 1:15 p.m. It is unknown at this time if it will be accessible by the public through teleconference.