Friendly River service may be coming to Deer Creek.
Dave Zeise of Friendly Rider spoke to the Deer Creek city council during its regular meeting Monday, Nov. 28.
If the Friendly Rider public transit service is set up for Deer Creek, it would happen in 2013 at the earliest, and most likely in 2014.
Zeise, who retired northwest of town last December, later on went to work part time for Friendly Rider. He said he had received inquiries from people asking if Friendly Rider could go to Deer Creek.
"To me it's a really neat service for the community," he said.
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Zeise said that for the Friendly Rider service to happen, three conditions have to be met.
First, there would be a commitment of $1 per capita paid for three years -- about a $330 fee every year.
Second, Otter Tail County would have to be on board, and they would have to get in contact with the Otter Tail County commissioners.
Third, there would have to be people to use it.
MnDOT would need to approve it for public funds.
The council discussed ways to gauge the level of interest in Friendly Rider.
Council member Brenda Lee said that even if Friendly Rider goes through Deer Creek only once a week, it made sense that at least some people would need it.
Friendly Rider is a publicly owned entity and not for profit. Anyone can use it, and there are lifts for wheelchair access.
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The public transit service currently has a presence in Wadena, Bluffton, Sebeka, Menahga, Verndale and Staples.
As of Jan. 1, they will expand to Bertha and Hewitt, and in 2013 they are requested to start serving Eagle Bend.
For Deer Creek, "it's not going to happen instantly," Zeise said.
