The Freeborn County Community Action Agency was awarded a contract Tuesday by the Mower County board to administer the public transportation services formerly known as Heartland Express and now called Mower County Transit.

"There will be no interruption of services. The transition will be seamless," said Len Miller, 4th District Mower County Commissioner.

Bruce E. Henricks, executive director of the Mower County Department of Human Services, said, "it's certainly my hope the transition will be smooth for everyone."

Henricks said, he expects "no hitches in the services provided to the public." He also said the new administrative agency is "very impressed with the Mower County staff and their high level of professionalism."

It wasn't a popular decision, though. Mower County residents, riders on the public transportation system and the Mower County Transit all questioned the commissioners' decision.

Miller, who is also chairman of the county board, said, "it was a necessary and a good decision for Mower County Transit."

The county followed the bid process, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation guidelines, according to Miller.

"We're certain the program will carry on," he said.

Kim Jensen, longtime director of Mower County Transit, submitted her resignation Tuesday much to the disappointment of Henricks and others in Mower County.

Jensen had served the public transportation system for the last five years after three directors held the position in the first two years of the program's existence.

Created as a Mower County program by county staff and with the approval of county officials, the transportation program has always been heavily subsidized by state and local funds.

Now, some of those funds will be going out-county to pay Freeborn County Community Action Agency for directing the county-based service.

In Jensen's five years, rider ship has doubled,

and so has the number of vehicles on Austin city streets. A new route system was implemented last fall and the program's staff moved to the former Austin school administration building, which has become a central dispatching/transfer

point for the familiar blue and white buses .

Jefferson Bus Lines also shares the facility with government offices. Also, Jensen saw a new child route implemented to serve younger clients. and introduction of a commuter route for Hormel Foods Corporation employees at the corporate offices and the new Corporate South complex along North Main Street.

Unwilling to let the interview become strictly "sour grapes," Jensen points out the assets of Mower County Transit.

"The strengths of the system are its diversity," she said. "We have a combination of services that provide for many different needs."

Jensen says another strength is the Mower County Transit staff, including drivers and others "We've got a tremendous staff here and drivers who are dedicated and who have excellent driving records," she said.

The changeover — paying an out-county agency to run an in-county business — disappoints Jensen.

"I do not view it as a positive change," she said.. "I think it's a quick Bandaid-type fix."

"Every two- or three-years, the county will have to start over and rebid the services again," she said.

She also suggested MDOT does not approve of the change and has a large financial partner the state agency shouldn't be ignored.

Jensen is also worried about the $500,000 grant the county is earmarked to receive for a new headquarters/operations facility may be jeopardized.

She concluded, "There's a solution to all the concerns about the system that could have been found in the city."

On that subject, Austin Mayor Bonnie Rietz said, she shares those concerns with others.

The mayor hopes the grant application for new facility funding will not be jeopardized and that services to the public will continue at their "high level."

She is "very, very disappointed" at the sudden departure of Jensen, whom she credited with both inspiring the loyalty and professionalism of the MCT staff and overseeing several positive milestones in the short history of the public transportation service.