T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY - A Marshalltown Municipal Transit bus is seen parked recently near the Fisher Community Center before resuming its route.

More than six months after the sudden death of long-tenured Marshalltown Municipal Transit Administrator Richard Stone, operations at the department appear to be in good order, at least in the eyes of one Marshalltown City Councilor.

Stone, 55, died Oct. 17 last year at his Des Moines-area home. He worked for the city 17 years.

Councilor-At-Large Bill Martin said he recently checked with Public Works Director Justin Nickel and City Administrator Jessica Kinser to get their take on transit operations and was pleased with their responses.

“I am not aware of any problems,” Martin said. “Administrator Kevin Pigors is experienced. He wanted the job, and we wanted the position filled.”

Pigors reports to Nickel, and Nickel reports to Kinser, who has significant oversight responsibilities for all city departments. Pigors was placed into the interim role on Nov. 8 and moved out of the interim role Jan. 6.

Starting pay is $63,793, according to Kinser. She said Pigors is responsible for a budget of $787,000 effective July 1 and a fleet of buses which serve Marshalltown residents.

Additionally, many Marshalltown Community School District students use the transit service. It is estimated more than 100 students use the service every school day.

Municipal transit seasonal routes come online during the school year and students from Lenihan Intermediate School, Miller Middle School and Marshalltown High School use those routes.

Marshalltown Municipal Transit has fixed routes serving the community year round. A call to Pigors seeking comment was not received by time of press Friday.