2 question vehicle leasing

By MICHAEL MARESH

Staff writer

Many county departments are obtaining new vehicles for their employees, but some county commissioners do not like how it’s new leasing system is being operated.

County administrator Tina Spencer said the vehicles used to be purchased on an as-needed basis. 

“We are transitioning to an equity lease model through Enterprise Fleet Management – starting with 13 vehicles,” she said. “Some of those vehicles have been delivered; others haven’t.” 

At a Dec. 12 meeting commissioner Clarke Dirks had questions for Spencer, but she did not know the answers.

The county spent $10,700 for a January lease payment, $674 for maintenance, and another $394 for full-fleet maintenance to Enterprise.

Dirks wanted to know the complete cost for the program and to understand the difference between maintenance and full-fleet maintenance.

“We are doing this, and we don’t know how much we are paying,” he said.

Spencer was supposed to send out the requested information, but he said he has yet to receive anything.

Commissioner Mike Beneke is opposed to leasing the vehicles, but his motion not to lease did not receive a second last year.

“We don’t need a new vehicle to replace ones with 10,000 to 12,000 miles, especially if you are paying for special equipment,” Beneke said. “I wouldn’t do it.”

Dirks agreed.

“We are getting 13 vehicles, but we don’t know what we are getting,” Dirks said. “We need to know what we are spending.”

Beneke said he understood getting new patrol vehicles for the sheriff’s office because lots of miles are put on them, but police cars need extra equipment, and new vehicles need to have this same equipment installed.

He hopes other commissioners see how the leasing program is not working and will want to get rid of it.

“I made a motion to lease none,” he said. “I don’t lease stuff. I buy.”

If vehicles are taken care of and maintained properly, new ones aren’t needed that often, he said.

Beneke, who once managed a large cattle feed lot, remembers buying, not leasing vehicles to be at his feed lot.

“In three to four years, we can get out of it,” he said of the county’s current agreement. “It’s not what I would have done. “I don’t think it is a good deal.”

Beneke said he was glad commissioners chose to go with 13 instead of 30 vehicles, but added that 13 is too many.

Dirks called it a compromise from what was initially brought to the commissioners.

“I didn’t want any part of it,” Beneke said. “We are on a road we should not be on.”