Transit chief unsure about permanent post

The Cape County Transit Authority is like most businesses -- follow sound practices and keep people with specialized knowledge close and things should run smoothly, interim director Tom Mogelnicki said Friday.

After a week on the job, Mogelnicki said he's unsure whether he will seek a permanent appointment to replace outgoing executive director Jeff Brune. But he said he's not going to sit back and be a caretaker, either.

Mogelnicki, 60, of Cape Girardeau has run a construction company, operated a real estate company with his wife and is a licensed septic system and well inspector. On Monday, he started his latest venture, taking charge of the expanded transit service that began bus service and full-time taxi service countywide in July.

"There are very experienced people here who are very knowledgeable about the transit business," Mogelnicki said. "I am here to manage the business. People with good business skills should be able to run this business just like any other."

Mogelnicki said he has "about given up" his construction company, Moge Construction Inc., and the real estate company, Century 21 Key Realty, was sold in 2004. In 2003, Mogelnicki was the defendant in two breach of contract lawsuits that resulted in judgments totaling $29,376.

He called the lawsuits "differences of opinion" and said they don't apply to his new post. "It is impossible to be in business 30 years" without being involved in a lawsuit, he said.

Several items of unfinished business won't be neglected while the board seeks a permanent replacement for Brune, Mogelnicki said.

Near the end of 2006, Brune persuaded the Cape Girardeau County Commission and the county Senior Services Fund Board to provide major increases in funding. He was stymied, however, when he sought additional money from Jackson, and indicated at the time that he would also be asking Cape Girardeau for additional help.

Following up with Jackson and making a specific request for help from Cape Girardeau are high on Mogelnicki's list.

"I will be going full bore," he said. "I will be attacking it all in due time."

He's first on the agenda for the Jackson Board of Aldermen at its study session Monday.

The point of the meeting isn't just to get the $14,000 increase in funding Brune sought in December, he said. The transit authority has been the object of griping in Jackson since it moved its headquarters to Cape Girardeau last year. The authority has sought to allay concerns by cutting prices and trying to improve service in Jackson.

"I want to find out what other needs they have to help that situation over there even more," he said.

Jackson budgeted $6,000 for the transit authority for this year. Cape Girardeau is providing $69,000, mainly to help pay for the bus route. The transit authority has been considering putting a second bus route on the streets of Cape Girardeau, but the agency won't be ready with a plan in time for the Cape Girardeau City Council to consider it for the budget year that begins July 1, Mogelnicki said.

Instead, he said, he wants the council to pay for sheltered bus stops and additional signs that give passengers a timetable for the bus that will be posted at stops.

Mogelnicki sought the job of executive director when Brune was selected in 2002. Brune is leaving to take a position as a financial adviser. The authority board plans a search for his successor that will last two to six months.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126