THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008

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Committee OKs More Taxis, Higher Rates

The Park Ridge Procedures and Regulations Committee agreed at the meeting on Tuesday, May 6 to grant Park Ridge Taxi an increase in the number of cabs and a higher rate for flag pull.

The company is currently licensed to operate up to 26 taxicabs. However, due to maintenance and other reasons, three or four of the cars are inoperative on any given day.

The owner of the company, Dean Dinev, requested an increase to 35 licensed cabs, expecting to have 30 on the street.

"If the business is there, that means the need is there," said Ald. David Schmidt (1st). "If the need is there, by all means we should put more taxis on the street."

Due to the increasing price of gas, Dinev also requested an increase of 50 cents per trip within Park Ridge city limits and $1 per trip for travel outside the city. "We recognize the financial pressure the drivers are feeling because of the increase in the gas price," Schmidt said. "I think it (the increase) is fair to the drivers."

The committee agreed to both requests and sent them to the city council for final approval.