Getting approval to operate a taxi service in Seymour has been a long, drawn-out process for Babette Johnson, but the Seymour woman is glad she stuck it out.
On Thursday, Johnson received final approval for her taxi license from the Seymour Board of Public Works and Safety.
Last month, she received support from the Seymour Board of Zoning Appeals. That board voted 4-0 to approve her request for a land use variance to operate B and S Transportation at 816 N. O’Brien St. The property is zoned residential.
BZA member Rob Kaufman did not attend the meeting.
Johnson explained the residence would serve as a dispatch center, but there would be no extra vehicles parked there or signage for the business.
"It’s really not going to change anything about the house," she said. "We’re basically going to use our cellphone to take calls and dispatch calls out."
The location is temporary until Johnson can find a permanent commercial location for the business.
"I can’t afford a commercial space until I actually get the business going," she said. "I feel like in about a year or less, I should be able to afford a commercial space."
Johnson first went before the board of works in August seeking approval for a taxicab license. The board tabled the matter until she could find a suitable location for the business.
On Oct. 8, she went before the Seymour Plan Commission requesting the land use variance. That board gave the petition a favorable recommendation with a 6-2 vote.
Commissioner Dave Eggers opposed the request at that time but reversed course and voted in support of the petition at the BZA meeting.
He said he agrees there is a need for transportation options in Seymour, but at first, he wasn’t sold on the residential location for the business.
"These are, in my opinion, the way we grow this city. We have a taxi service. We have an affordable way of getting people around from Point A to Point B. These times are tough," Eggers said. "But in saying that, we need to be able to be sure that we abide by all the rules in doing that."
Eggers said he personally is not the biggest fan of variances, and he said he cast a nay vote during the plan commission meeting because he thought some of the business plan needed to be tightened up and a little more descriptive.
"I’ve since had some conversations and some discussions, but I need to see this develop and know that we will monitor that," he said to Johnson during the BZA meeting. "So you need to be ever-present that you need to find you a commercial location."
Johnson replied, "Yes, sir."
Martelle Conner is one of Johnson’s drivers and lives at the North O’Brien Street residence. Connor owns three vehicles, and his housemate also has a vehicle at the property, he said.
After speaking with his neighbors, Conner said he doesn’t see the business being a problem for anyone.
By providing transportation for people to get to work and to other destinations, Conner said he believes the business will help the local economy.
"I feel as though that it would be advantageous to the community," he said. "As far as the property in and of itself, I don’t feel like it would be a hindrance to anybody in the community where we would be going out of. It’s just a cellphone call in and out."
Johnson said a taxi service is a needed business in Seymour. There is currently only one other in operation, A1 Taxi.
She agreed with Conner that there is economic value to the service, noting people who can’t work because they don’t have transportation will be able to.
"I know a lot of people are having hard times with employment. They are having hard times getting back and forth to work," she said. "A lot of people in Seymour are on a point system, so it’s a service I want to be able to help people to get back and forth to work and pay me when they get paid rather than having to worry about having money every day to get back and forth."
B and S Transportation will operate from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays. The service will not be available on Sundays.
"We will be going 24 hours, 7 days a week once we get enough business," she said.
Johnson said the fee for regular customers within city limits going back and forth to work is $7 each way. A trip from Seymour to Columbus, North Vernon or Scottsburg is $40 and from Seymour to Indianapolis or Louisville is $120. All other rides will be metered, Johnson added. Advance notice is needed for longer trips.
Resident Robert Emily owns property across the street from Conner and said he opposes the request. Emily is concerned the business will have a negative effect on surrounding property values and will cause too much traffic in the area, which is already a busy school zone.
He also had concerns the city could end up in a lawsuit if Conner’s vehicle insurance ever lapses.
Commissioner John Reinhart asked how many taxis Johnson will operate.
"Right now, there is just one," she said. "I’ll be working on getting some more once we start and get things rolling."
She doesn’t plan on having a large fleet of vehicles, however.
"Probably a few," she said. "I don’t see us having a whole lot of vehicles. No more than maybe four."
But additional vehicles won’t be parked at the North O’Brien Street residence, she added.
"They will be at the driver’s home, and they will work shifts," she said.
Johnson said she will make sure all of her drivers’ insurance is in good standing. She also said no mechanical work on vehicles will be done at the residence.
"There won’t be anyone out there working on cars," she said.
Reinhart asked whether Johnson had received the appropriate vehicle inspections and licensing to operate a taxi service in the city.
She said Seymour police had inspected and signed off on Conner’s vehicle, and she had filed that paperwork with the city.
Now that her taxi license has been approved, Johnson said she plans to launch a website and start advertising.
Building Commissioner Jeremy Gray said Johnson has gone through all of the proper steps to open the business.
"She has followed protocol," he said.
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B and S Transportation
Owner: Babette Johsnon
Phone: 812-216-8636
Address: 816 N. O’Brien St.
Hours of operation: 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays. The service will not be available on Sundays.
Cost: For regular customers within city limits going back and forth to work, the fee is $7 each way. A trip from Seymour to Columbus, North Vernon or Scottsburg is $40 and from Seymour to Indianapolis or Louisville is $120. All other rides will be metered. Advance notice is needed for longer trips.
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