BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 @ 8:00 A.M.
Meeting Location – Metro Centre or Remote
Zoom 312-626-6799, Meeting ID: 465 778 3908, Passcode: 111375
Agenda
1.0 Roll Call
2.0 Pledge of Allegiance
3.0 Public with Business to Come Before the Board
(Comments should be limited to three minutes)
4.0 Consent Agenda
4.01 Minutes August 26, 2025
4.02 Financials
5.0 Communications
5.01 Chairman Report
5.02 Managing Director’s Report
5.03 Operations Report
5.04 Complaints/Comments Report
5.05 Board Member Comments
6.0 New Business
6.01 Employee Action
7.0 Old Business
7.01 Planning Study
8.0 Questions from the News Media
9.0 Other Business to come Before the Board (includes Executive
Session, if necessary
Closed session in accordance with the Illinois Open Meeting Act 5
ILCS 120/2(c)(1).
(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline,
performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public
body or legal counsel for the public body.”
10.0 Potential Action from Executive Session
11.0 Adjournment
Future Meetings and Events (Tentative Schedule)
Board Meetings are the fourth Tuesday of every month at 8:00 am.
(excluding July and December)
River Valley Metro Mass Transit District
Metro Centre, 1137 E 5000 North Road, Bourbonnais IL 60914
Board of Director Meeting Minutes
September 23, 2025
Chairman Argyelan called the regular monthly River Valley Metro Board of
Directors meeting to order at 8:00 AM.
Attending Board Members: Chairman Mark Argyelan, Vice-Chairman Jerry
Pearce, Secretary Nick Allen, Treasurer Ron Jackson, Board Members David
Hinderliter, Kenny Blake, Ryan Nugent.
Staff Members Present: Managing Director Siron Sims, Director of Administration
Mandy Taylor, Director of Operations Michelle Brutlag, Project Manager Cortney
Koning, COO Ken Munjoy, Director of Facilities Tim Goodman
Others Present: We Drive U G.M. Rod Kimbrough, area resident Marta Perales
Pledge of Allegiance led by: Siron Sims
Public with Business to Come Before the Board:
Marta Perales is a resident of Momence. She expressed the need for more bus
shelters due to frequently seeing people waiting for buses during inclement
weather. She also stated that we should be more transparent by posting our
board meeting agendas on our website.
Consent Agenda: Jerry Pearce made a motion to approve the consent agenda.
Nick Allen seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken of those in attendance,
with all in favor. Consent agenda approved.
Communications:
Chairman’s Report: Mark Argyelan
None
Managing Director’s Report: Siron Sims
Our all-employee lunch is scheduled for this Friday and will be catered by Olive
Garden.
Mr. Sims attended the APTA Transform Conference in Boston. It was well
attended, and the sessions were very valuable. Next year’s conference will be an
Expo and will be held in Chicago.
Operations Report:
Rod Kimbrough reported that safety metrics here are well below national
averages. We currently have 60 operators, with a goal of 64.
Ken Munjoy reported that August ridership this year was 52,541, compared to
56,350 last year. FY year-to-date rides are down 8.1% from last year.
Complaints/Comments: Michelle Brutlag
In the last month, there were 6 complaints, 4 of which were valid. We received 1
compliment. CCS and Transit Officers provided 76 rides.
Board Report:
David Hinderliter commented that he met with Rod Kimbrough and the meeting
was very rewarding.
Nick Allen mentioned that he believes that our board meeting agendas and
minutes are on our website. Siron Sims confirmed this to be true.
New Business
Employee Action
Michelle Brutlag is retiring at the end of September after 18 years of irreplaceable
service and leadership. Michelle was presented with a commemorative plaque.
Old Business
Planning Study
The original idea was to study the possibility of merging rural and urban public
transportation in Kankakee County. Some transportation systems are moving
toward microtransit to better serve their communities. Our ADA scheduling
software, Tripmaster, has a microtransit module. In addition, Rod Kimbrough has
microtransit experience. We have prepared a microtransit plan RFP.
Questions from the news media:
None
Other Business to come Before the Board:
None
Executive Session:
None
Adjournment
Jerry Pearce made a motion to adjourn at 8:30 AM. Motion was seconded by nick
Allen and passed unanimously in a voice vote.
