Johnson County approves contract with Iowa City for paratransit service

After months of sometimes contentious debate, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors on Thursday approved a contract with Iowa City for a transit service for the elderly and disabled people.

The 5-0 vote means the county will keep running the SEATS program for the city with a new contract that starts July 1.

County and city officials, along with those in Coralville and North Liberty, have spent months arguing over how much money the county puts into the program. The contract approved Thursday will have the county pay Iowa City $154,000 next fiscal year.

The Iowa City Council approved the contract Tuesday. It includes language that eliminates Sunday service and discounted fares in Iowa City at the end of September.

County Supervisors made clear they do not support those cuts, but they said that was the city's call. City Council members asked city staff to explore ways to save the two services.

A contract between the county and Coralville is expected to be voted on by both entities next week, with the county looking to pay the city $46,000 a year. Coralville provides service to North Liberty.

Coralville also is considering cutting Sunday service.

The county does not offer Sunday service or discounted fares for rural residents.