Bannock County public works staff reviewed FY26 fleet bids Tuesday and asked commissioners for direction on several vehicle builds, including two Chevrolet Tahoe configurations with different feature packages.

Buddy Romrell, public works assistant director, said everything else in the FY26 fleet came in under budget except the higher-spec Tahoe. “The one with the technology package is $3,000 over budget, and then the other one's about $1,500 under budget,” Romrell told the commission. The technology package described in the discussion includes features the presenter called “super cruise” (a driver-assist feature) and a max trailer trailering package with trailer-backup assist. Commissioners expressed that trailer towing and the higher-spec tech features were not necessary for their use and discussed removing nonessential features (Romrell said he would try to remove a sunroof to save cost).

Romrell also outlined vehicle assignments discussed in the session: juvenile probation will receive two smaller SUVs (Chevy tracks), detention will receive a Trailblazer, the weed department will get a replacement groomer truck, a Tahoe will go to the pool, and Road & Bridge is getting two new three-quarter-ton trucks. Romrell said the county had been able to secure better pricing by ordering directly but that ordered vehicles would likely arrive in roughly four to five months, with an anticipated delivery around February.

Romrell said he will return with another vehicle request for the agricultural extension office within a $41,000 budget to buy a used half-ton in white to match the county fleet. Commissioners voiced general acceptance of the lower-cost Tahoe option and agreed staff should pursue cost-saving specification changes. No formal vote was recorded on the vehicle specifications during the meeting; the presentation served to get guidance before placing orders.