A TRANSPORTATIO

N PROPOSALFrom the Board of Trustees

OUR CURRENT VEHICLE 1999 Ford E350 XLT Extended Seating for

11 Passengers

GENERAL ISSUES Age of the vehicle Seating for [only] 11 passengers Configuration Safety

CONFIGURATION/ACCESS High entry

height

CONFIGURATION/ACCESS Tight quarters:

Access to rear seats is a challenge

SAFETY

SAFETY “Church Mutual recommends

congregations not use 15 passenger vans…”

Some insurers will not cover 15 passenger vehicles (though ours does currently)

Removing the rear seat does not fundamentally change the characteristics of the vehicle or the insurance rating

CURRENT VEHICLE STATUS Summer 2013, Youth Trip to Wilmington

Brake malfunction (RF would not release) Response of Trustees

Vehicle was repaired50 mile radius limitationRentals for trips beyond 50 milesBudgeted $2,400 for rental expenses

OPTIONS CONSIDERED Replace existing van with a newer

model Replace existing van with a mid-sized

bus Repair existing van, but limit use,

supplement with Rentals and Charters

OPTION 1: REPLACE WITH NEW GMC Savana 3500 Extended (15

passenger)$49,965 msrp

Ford E-350 XLT Extended (15 passenger)$38,315 msrp

But… Identical Access, Safety and Size issues

OPTION 2: SMALL BUS Pros

Improved Access Lower step up Center Aisle

Improved SafetyLower Insurance

ratesLarger capacity

Cons Initial CostFinancing CostsCommercial

Driver’s License required

Higher scheduled maintenance costs

OPTION 3: RENTALS / CHARTERS 15 Passenger

Rental $150 per day $600 per week

(approx) Same access,

safety and size issues

Charter Bus (inc. driver) $75 per hour —or— $900 per day —or— $3 per mile with

passengers + $1.25 per mile empty

7 to 15% surcharge Driver expenses (Food

Hotel, etc. & Gratuity)

ACTUAL CHARTER EXAMPLE

Day trip to Charlotte (Billy Graham Library) Travelers pay meal/lodging/trip expenses

PLUSDay Rate $1,800.00

Per Person (36 passengers) $50.00 Per Person (18 passengers) $100.00

Note: This is a discounted rate

Trip CANCELLED

THIS IS WHERE WE LEFT IT…

2013 until Now

A NEW PROGRAM… STARS Program Is Conceived, Funded

and Implementation Begins Need for Transportation for up to 20

children for field trips, etc. for 6 weeksPlanned for at least our van plus an

additional rental van Rental Cost approximately $3,600.00

…BEGINS A NEW CONVERSATION. “It’s a shame to throw away $3,600 on a

rental, what if we gave that to the church to purchase something that would last?”

Over three years, that’s over $10,000 that STARS could contribute.

IMPORTANT NOTE Church is NOT being asked to purchase a

bus for the STARS programSTARS has budgeted to use our existing van

plus a rental and is happy to do that STARS has offered to use their rental

budget to offset the purchase of a bus Our decision must be predicated on the

church’s use of the vehicle, not STARS

WE BEGIN TO EXPLORE FEASIBILITY

CONSIDERATIONS How would we use the vehicle? Type/Size of Vehicle Needed

Issues with 15 passenger vans noted Do we have certified CDL drivers? Financial Implications

HOW WOULD WE USE IT?

EXAMPLE 1 Good Timers Trip to Billy Graham Library

(assume 20 passengers)@ $0.75 per mile = $16 per person@ $1.00 per mile = $21.25 per personWe provide our own (volunteer) driver

Note: Trustees will set mileage rate for such trips

EXAMPLE 2 Youth Trip to National Whitewater

Center/Billy Graham Library (planned for June)Costs similar to example 1 –under $21 per

person 16 youth/adults would otherwise require

1 rental van and 1 private vehicle: Costs double in this scenario

EXAMPLE 3 Country Fair

Shuttle service between BB&T Parking lot and our campus

Round trip every 15 minutes until noonHelps parking issues along 904 by providing

a safer option when campus lot is full

OTHER EXAMPLES Good Timers

To Night of a thousand candles at Brookgreen Gardens

Day trips to Southport, Pelicans games, etc. Youth to Pilgrimage as well as local trips And many more…

COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE 4 Currently with Passenger

Endorsements An additional 5 have expressed

willingnessRequires a written test at DMV (learners

permit)Road driving experience with licensed driverRoad test in Wilmington by appointmentMay require a physical

CONSIDERATIONS Considered small School Bus

Seats 20-25 adults$2,500 state surplus plus paint/tires

($1,800-2,500)No Air ConditioningSeats made for childrenHigh initial step-upWorks for STARS but not suitable for general

church use

“ABSOLUTE BUS” IN LUMBERTON Regional Bus Seller and Refurbisher New and Used 15-50 passenger busses

and coaches Had a 25 passenger “trade-in” (non-

refurbished) bus for $18,900 Inspected by delegation on May 9Found to be unsuitable—needed too much

work, too old (2000 model)

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? 2007 Ford E-450 “Turtle Top” 6.0 Litre Powerstroke Diesel 23 Passenger Seatbelts Luggage Compartment Completely Refurbished

EXTENT OF REFURBISHMENT Replace Water Pump Replace Power Steering Pump Replace Starter Replace Dual Alternators Replace Steering Stabilizer Replace all Pulley Bearings Replace Brake Calipers, Pads and

Turn Rotors Repaint Bus Change Oil, Filter and Grease Job Change ATF and Filter (s) Replace Fuel Filter (s) Flush Radiator and Change

Coolant

6 Tires Mounted and Balanced Passenger Step structure, treads

and step nose Rebuild Shifter Upper and Lower Ball Joints Front Springs Radius Arm Bushings Anti Sway Bar Bushings 4 Shocks Driver Running Board Step Replace 2 Batteries Replace Belt (s) Marker Lights with guards

$41,120Trustees Voted to Recommend this

Vehicle at May Meeting

FINANCE COMMITTEE While Sensitive to the issues related to

the request of the Trustees, the Finance Committee has voted NOT to concur with the Trustees Recommendation

In their comments, Finance counsels to waitRaise FundsBudget as necessary to cover expenses and

amortization

TRUSTEES RESPONSE To delay would be to forego $3,600 to

over $10,000 donated to the cause through STARS

To delay would mean finding another suitable bus

FINANCING AND AMORTIZATION

Our Bank Private Financing (Ch. Member)

10% Down 3.5% 5 Year Approx.

$675/month $3,325 interest

$3000 down 3.0% 3 year Approx.

$1,100/month $1,800 interest

REQUEST Accept $3,600 from STARS for 2014,

2015, 2016 ($10,800 total) Use $2,400 of Trustees budget

designated for rental costs toward bus purchase and related expenses

Finance the bus for 3-5 years

ADDENDUMBus Purchase approved at May

2014 Church Council Meeting