By Lori EhdeMyrtle Gott, 79, Luverne, lives in the Blue Mound Towers and doesn’t own a car.When the weather’s nice, she runs errands on foot, but when she needs a set of wheels, she calls Heartland Express."I’m so glad they’re here, and my son, Tom, is too, because I used to call him to give me rides," Gott said Monday."I really like it. The drivers are so good to you. They help you with everything — on and off the bus, with getting your groceries to the door."Gott is among hundreds of local riders who rely on Heartland Express, Rock County’s bus system, to get around.Next week, Heartland marks its 30th anniversary of providing local public transportation.The anniversary will be officially observed next summer, but meanwhile, Heartland Express director Terrie Gulden has enjoyed researching the history of the organization.Started with a mini-bus for senior citizensAccording to the Sept. 25, 1974, Star Herald, it was Sept. 26, 1974, that the Rock County Board started providing public transportation to senior citizens. It was one of the first rural counties in the state to initiate such a service for its residents."That was a pretty bold, progressive decision for a small county board," Gulden said. "They did it without really having any idea what it was going to cost them."The vehicle was a $6,550 15-passenger mini-bus and the transportation office was at the Senior Citizens building, with pickup stations established in area communities."In retrospect, it was a good decision, even though the county would pick up 100 percent of the cost after three years," Gulden told County Commissioners in a letter presented during their Tuesday meeting."I commend the County Board on their vision 30 years ago. Certainly, Rock County was a progressive thinker in a rural county in the state of Minnesota."Ione Bush was the first director, Betty Iveland was the first driver, and Carmen Suurmeyer was in charge of bookkeeping, bus routings and scheduling.According to a Sept. 11, 1974, Star Herald story, the federal government would participate with 75 percent of the funding the first year and gradually reduce that commitment to zero after three years. The cost for the first year of service was projected to be $45,973.Suurmeyer’s salary was paid by the Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council. She made $2 per hour and worked 40 hours per week. Iveland was paid by the county $350 per month and also worked full-time.The service at that time was offered at no cost. The Sept. 11 Star Herald reported, "Contributions for the rides by the individuals are welcome, but not required."New name, new bus, new ridersThe bus operated as "Rock County Senior Transportation" until 1991, when it became "Heartland Express."The name change came with a new bus capable of accommodating wheelchairs and a new approach to serving riders. Instead of focusing only on senior riders, the service became available to all Rock County residents.In that first year, more than 10,000 passengers rode roughly 16,000 miles. Within a year, ridership jumped to 14,621.In March 1992, the Star Herald reported on those changes:"A busy day used to be 20 to 35 people. Now we can get up to 100. We're going all over in the county, and we're serving all ages from 3-month-old babies to 93-year-old ladies," said Heartland Express Director Deb Fick.They provide rides for school children and Head Start students. They transport children from school to babysitters' houses. They take people in wheelchairs wherever they want to go. Buses transport people to senior dining and to dances and gatherings at senior centers. Heartland coordinates with Rock County Family Service to provide transportation for clients.Fees at that time were 50 cents one way in Luverne, and $1 one way for rides outside Luverne.Numbers holding strongToday Heartland Express boasts a ridership of more than 24,000 local people per year with in-town fares set at $1.50 for one way and $3 for trips in the county.The current Heartland Express fleet has four buses, one of which serves as a back-up vehicle.A new bus is scheduled to arrive next week.Gulden said the buses still transport senior citizens, but there are many young riders as well.Children in Discovery Time Preschool and Little Lambs Preschool make up a large percentage of riders during the school year."Those are busy times of the day," Gulden said about preschool pickup and drop-off times.Current ridership breaks down as follows:oChildren 27.2 percentoYouth (6-18) 13.5 percentoAdults (18-65) 17.5 percentoElderly (65+) 29.5 percentoDisabled 12.3 percentHeartland operates on a $250,000 budget, but fares represent only $48,000 of its revenue, and Rock County contributes nearly $6,000. The rest comes from state and federal aid. "Our taxpayers need to understand it’s not a real cost to have this service in Rock County," Gulden said. "… And it’s a beautiful service."Gulden pointed out that no city tax levy dollars go into supporting the Heartland Express. "However, the city benefits from 85 percent of the services rendered by our system," he said. "Our ridership split is 85 percent Luverne with 15 percent all other areas in Rock County."Gulden said the children make for a nice variety of riders, both for the drivers and the other senior passengers on the bus.Another busy time for Heartland Express is Sunday mornings when riders need to get to church.Gulden said he’s proud to be working for an office that provides such a valuable service."The gist of it is that we have a wonderful service here, both in bus drivers and volunteer drivers," he said. "It’s really priceless."
