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Commission ratifies three‑year lease for two SPEAR undercover vehicles, reimbursable through HIDTA grant
Summary
The Board ratified a multi‑year vehicle lease for two undercover SPEAR units, approved earlier by the sheriff, and authorized the county to continue annual payments reimbursed by a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) grant.
The Garfield County Board on Aug. 18 ratified a previously executed lease agreement for two undercover vehicles used by the county SPEAR unit. County staff told commissioners the agreement with Financial Pacific Leasing (doing business as Umpqua) covers the two leased units across a five‑year framework with the financial schedule structured to keep annual payments low; the first three years carry lower per‑year payments and the contract includes standard liability if the county terminates the lease early.
Procurement and sheriff’s office staff said the annual payment for the two vehicles is approximately $14,500 and that amount will be charged to the SPEAR account and then reimbursed through the HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) grant. Staff explained the larger figure shown in leasing paperwork (~$148,455) reflects the total liability/value of the vehicles over the contract term — not a required immediate cash outlay. Commissioners ratified the lease and authorized the chair to sign.
Why it matters: The ratification allowed the SPEAR task force to continue operating with leased undercover vehicles funded via a federal HIDTA reimbursement grant; staff said fiscal exposure is limited to the scheduled lease payments unless the county terminates the lease early.
