In January, commissioners accepted the three-year, $8 million bid from LeFleur over Fairfield-based Universal Transportation Systems, which had provided the service since 2004.
“This was reviewed by the committee and determined LeFleur to be the lowest and best,” said JFS Director Jerome Kearns.
LeFleur submitted one of two proposals the county received. The company’s three-year contract — which is based on an average of 9,800 trips per month — has two one-year options, which would make it an estimated $12.8 million contract if they are both exercised.
LeFleur Director of Operations Darius McLaughlin is overseeing the 17-year-old company’s new startup location at 2975 Symmes Road in Fairfield.
“I’ve been through several of these starts,” said McLaughlin to the commissioners. “We have our office space, we have all our vehicles in place and we have 90 percent of our driving hirings in place. We’re all set to go for our March 16 start date.”
Kearns said WorkForce One has assisted in LeFleur’s recruitment.
“All of our staff is local, except for myself,” McLaughlin said.
UTS’s current contract, which is in its fourth year, will end up being $12 million when it ends on March 15, Kearns said.
Butler County Commissioner Charles Furmon said he “feels comfortable” going with the out-of-state-based company after officials received feedback from communities in other states where LeFleur is located.
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