Clarendon County Council unanimously approved moving forward with a fleet management partnership Monday night that county officials say could improve vehicle safety, replace aging vehicles more quickly and reduce long-term operating costs without increasing next year's vehicle budget.
Following a presentation from Enterprise Fleet Management representatives, council authorized county staff to proceed with the program, which is designed to help local governments replace aging vehicles on a more consistent schedule while maximizing trade-in values and reducing maintenance expenses.
County Administrator Walt Ackerman said the plan would allow the county to significantly increase the number of vehicles replaced each year while maintaining current spending levels.
"In our current budget that you will vote on later tonight, we have the replacement of eight vehicles," Ackerman said. "We don't want to increase it, but we are looking to replace upwards of 50 vehicles using that same $500,000 by implementing the first step of this long-range plan."
Enterprise representatives presented an analysis of the county's light- and medium-duty vehicle fleet, which includes passenger vehicles, pickup trucks and SUVs used by county departments. The proposal does not include ambulances, fire apparatus, dump trucks or other heavy equipment.
According to Enterprise's analysis, the county currently operates approximately 186 light- and medium-duty vehicles and replaces an average of 18 vehicles annually. Enterprise representatives said that pace effectively places the county on a 10-year replacement cycle, contributing to rising maintenance costs and aging equipment.
The presentation noted that approximately 42% of county vehicles predate current safety standards. Enterprise representatives reported that 79 vehicles were manufactured before backup cameras became standard equipment, 48 predate rear automatic braking technology and 29 were produced before electronic stability control became standard.
"What we've been tasked with is what would it look like to instill newer, safer and more reliable vehicles, and what are the costs associated with doing those things," Enterprise Account Executive Eddie Maracich told council.
Enterprise officials said the program is designed to identify the most cost-effective point to replace vehicles by balancing maintenance costs, fuel consumption and resale value.
Under the proposal, the county would gradually move away from its current 10-year replacement cycle and toward an average five-year cycle. Enterprise estimated the plan could generate approximately $135,000 in annual savings and more than $2.7 million in savings over a 10-year period through lower maintenance costs, improved fuel efficiency and higher trade-in values.
Ackerman said the county's aging fleet creates challenges beyond routine maintenance expenses. Working with the Sheriff's Office during the evaluation process, county officials identified a large number of high-mileage vehicles that require departments to maintain additional backup vehicles in case of breakdowns.
"The sheriff carries a huge number of spare vehicles because they all have 250,000 to 300,000 miles on them," Ackerman said. "If we have good dependable spares now, he doesn't have to have as many."
Ackerman also cited employee safety as a significant factor in the recommendation.
"We have vehicles that were purchased in 1999 that we're still driving around," he said. "The safety aspect of our vehicles really worries me."
Sheriff Tim Baxley, whose department operates the county's largest vehicle fleet, questioned Enterprise representatives about delivery timelines for law enforcement vehicles, noting that patrol vehicles often take months to arrive and be outfitted for service after they are ordered.
Enterprise representatives said the program would allow departments to begin planning vehicle purchases before the start of each budget year, helping reduce delays associated with manufacturing and equipment installation.
Council members also questioned company representatives about warranty coverage, local dealership participation and contract terms. Enterprise officials said vehicle warranties would remain the same as those offered by manufacturers and that local dealerships could continue to participate in the purchasing process.
Before the vote, Councilman Billy Richardson asked Ackerman whether he recommended moving forward with the partnership.
Ackerman said county staff reviewed the plan extensively, spoke with officials in other communities using similar programs and evaluated potential drawbacks before bringing the recommendation to council.
"We've been working on this for quite a few months, and I've been trying my best to poke holes in it," Ackerman said.
Council subsequently approved moving forward with the partnership.
