By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Between all of their departments, the City of Great Bend has 98 vehicles in their fleet. That list of vehicles includes equipment used by public works and public lands, the fire and police departments, and city administration. A constant budget item for each department is annual maintenance on the vehicles and replacing the equipment with newer models.
Enterprise Fleet Management made a presentation to the Great Bend City Council Monday night on a “leasing program” system. Mayor Cody Schmidt also serves as the Transportation Director for the Great Bend school district. USD 428 currently uses Enterprise’s services for 10 vehicles.
"Dealing with Enterprise and they way they reach out and the team they give you, that is 100-percent true," said Schmidt. "All they're doing is checking on you. You have your own team that deals with logistics, mileage, oil changes and scheduling."
Instead of purchasing vehicles and driving them until the wheels fall off, the leasing program allows the city to receive newer vehicles on a consistent basis, rotating the vehicles on a planned schedule.
Ken Olsen, with Enterprise, said 90% of the vehicles they acquire come straight from the manufacturer, but local dealerships are still used for delivery and services after the sale.
"Most dealerships will tell you they're not making a tremendous amount of money on the front end of vehicles from government entities," said Olsen. "Through the change in philosophy with our program, we will implement a much newer fleet and rotate those vehicles significantly faster. Through that, the dealerships will make more money through the deliveries that are coming through."
Out of Great Bend’s 98 vehicles, there are 35 vehicles that are 20 years old or older. Enterprise showed the leasing program could save the city an estimated $1.2 million over a 10-year period.
City officials did not have a recommendation and plan on getting specific options for the council to consider in the future.