GREENFIELD — Hancock County Commissioners are hoping to sign a contract before the end of the year to lease several county vehicles through Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s fleet management program.
County officials have been in discussion with Enterprise since the summer to configure a vehicle maintenance and replacement schedule, hoping the program would save the county money on vehicle upkeep over time.
Commissioner Marc Huber said Hancock County will first pilot the lease program on six or seven vehicles from community corrections and the sheriff’s department. The county doesn’t have a service garage, which could cut back on costs, Huber said, and most departments have aging vehicles in their fleets.
Huber said the county wants to limit the number of vehicles whose mounting maintenance costs could end up costing departments more than they’re worth.
“We’re just trying to find the sweet spot in there,” he said.
Enterprise could set up two- to four-year leases for newer vehicles, which include costs for oil changes and at least one set of tires and one set of brakes in the lease term, Huber said. County attorney Ray Richardson and Enterprise representatives are still configuring the program specifics and the contract, Huber said.
The county would still purchase the vehicles with a government discount, he added.
When the lease is up, Huber said the county could sell the vehicles and make a profit to use on the next lease. The same goes for the county’s existing vehicles. Huber said the county would sell those to contribute toward newer vehicles.
Sheriff-elect Brad Burkhart said the sheriff’s department is looking to purchase new vehicles for detectives, process servers and for jail transportation through the pilot program, a total of four new cars. The county wouldn’t purchase patrol cars through the lease program. Huber said those vehicles can’t be switched out as often because of their many add-ons, such as computers, radios, lights and sirens.
Huber said the commissioners hope to sign an agreement with Enterprise before the end of the year.
