Discussion of updating a public conveyance ordinance turned out not to be as simple as it sounded for Enid City Commission.

The ordinance reportedly applied only to taxi cabs, but the conveyance definition was so loose it could apply to other types of transportation as well. But when city officials introduced their plan during a recent city commission study session, one commissioner thought it was a matter of more than just updating the ordinance.

Ward one commissioner James Crabbs, whose daughter is executive director of MAGB, a medical transportation organization, thought the ordinance went too far and duplicated what the state and federal governments already do. During a discussion at the Sept. 15 study session, Crabbs said those companies should not be taxed in addition to what the state and federal governments already do. He repeated those concerns Tuesday.

“My own feelings are that it should not be taxed onto a company that is sanctioned by state and federal, who have already gone through background checks,” Crabbs said.

He believes it is unfair for the city to ask companies to pay $70 for a permit and $25 for each driver.

“I don’t think the city would want to care for all these records,” he said.

Crabbs said companies already are subject to background checks by state and federal authorities and he does not believe the city should make them duplicate that just because they enter the city limits.

The ordinance was tabled Sept. 15 so revisions could be made.

Mayor John Criner said he is sure the commission will vote on the issue at the next city commission meeting Oct. 6.

“I don’t know exactly what the ordinance will be, I didn’t get a clear distinction, but Commissioner Crabbs was pushing the opposition,” Criner said.

Criner believes if the companies can show re-quired state or federal licenses, they probably will not have to have city licensing. However, if they are stopped by police and do not have them, they will be penalized, he said.

“The city has an obligation to the community to be sure the people doing that are not pedophiles, or have drunken driving records and will have proper licensing,” he said.

Crabbs said these companies pick up people from outside the community and bring them here for medical appointments, hospital visits, dialysis treatments and other medical reasons. While they are in town he said they may shop and contribute to city revenue.

“I think it is ludicrous,” he said.

Mary Williams, Crabbs’ daughter and executive director of MAGB, said she is frustrated. Her customers are either Sooner Care or private pay clients. Sooner Care is under Medicaid and requires vehicle inspections, background and driver’s license checks for all drivers.

“We have a lot of stringent requirements and I feel the city wanted to duplicate them,” Williams said.

MAGB, short for Major, Alfalfa, Grant and Blaine counties, is a 501(c)(3) non- profit company. She said the ordinance requirements would have required a $75 fee for the agency, $35 per vehicle for all 23 vehicles, and $25 per driver for an Enid license.

Williams said they do not receive a subsidy from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, but only receive what they are being reimbursed from Sooner Ride and private pay customers. However, based on the discussions last Tuesday Williams said she is satisfied with the revisions.

Since starting in only four northwest Oklahoma counties, MAGB now goes as far west as Beaver County and south to Custer County.

Stephen Feist, with Logisticare Solutions LLC, of Oklahoma City, which also operates in Enid, was out of town Tuesday and could not be contacted.