County reviews private fleet-leasing options as road, broadband and sheriff vehicle needs rise

Rio Blanco County commissioners heard a detailed presentation on vehicle leasing and upfitting options for multiple county departments on Sept. 23, including proposals targeted at IT/broadband splicing, public works, the sheriff’s office and heavy equipment such as graders.

The vendor, represented by Spencer of Unified Lead Services, outlined multiple vehicle-lease packages (GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado) and upfit options, and described a residual-equity resale approach to return proceeds to the county when vehicles are sold. He also presented a 6x10 splicing trailer, a passenger bus, a water truck and a new Cat grader as possible procurements.

Why it matters: Road and sheriff operations rely on vehicles that must survive rough county roads and heavy towing. Commissioners and department leaders emphasized the need for 3/4-ton (heavy-duty) pickups for long-lived durability and raised budget and lifecycle questions about lease vs. buy and upfit costs that affect long-term fleet budgets.

Key details - Vendor: Unified Lead Services (presenter identified as Spencer; colleague Jake was noted as unavailable). The vendor proposed monthly-payment lease structures priced to include upfits; some proposals were shown at 10,000 or 15,000 miles per year and others at higher mileages for sheriff vehicles (20,000–30,000). Prices shown were illustrative and the vendor agreed to re-run quotes keyed to the county’s actual mileage and upfit specs. - Upfits and resale: Upfit cost examples ranged from roughly $8,000 to $24,000 depending on scope. Vendor said vehicles often start “upside down” because upfit costs are included but that resale channels (dealerships, auctions) and a fee structure can return “equity” back to the county at lease end. The vendor said law-enforcement vehicles often can be resold with lights/sirens/cages stripped or sold with units depending on buyer. - Heavy-duty needs: Commissioners and Road & Bridge raised frequent operational concerns about half‑ton pickups failing on Rio Blanco’s rough dirt roads. Road & Bridge staff said previous experience shows half-tons wear out quickly and recommended 3/4-ton or heavier chassis for many public‑works tasks; the vendor agreed to price 3/4-ton options and to provide alternative diesel choices. - Maintenance and mileage: Unified said warranty repair must be routed to dealers; routine fleet maintenance (oil, brakes, tires) can be done locally and should be budgeted in addition to lease payments. The vendor described how higher-than-expected mileage affects resale value and equity returned. - Vehicles quoted: examples included a 2025 GMC Canyon Elevation (with about $8,000 upfit estimate), Tacoma SR5, Chevy Colorado and multiple Ford F-150 variants, plus a 6x10 splicing trailer and passenger buses (12–14 passenger with wheelchair capacity). Sheriff's pursuit-rated PIU SUVs were available “on lot” for quicker delivery.

Commissioner and staff concerns - Lifecycle and resale uncertainty: Commissioners pressed how the vendor calculates end-of-lease value and how much equity the county would realistically get back after three years, especially where heavy upfits are installed. - Duty-cycle and spec accuracy: Commissioners directed the vendor to re-quote using actual departmental mileage figures (sheriff, broadband and Road & Bridge) and to price 3/4-ton (and heavier) options appropriate to gravel/dirt roads. - Budget impacts: The sheriff’s office estimated a rough annual cost for patrol fleets in discussion; commissioners asked the vendor to provide precise pricing matched to the county’s requested upfit lists and to the county’s procurement cycle so the board could compare lease vs. purchase scenarios.

Next steps and vendor follow-up - The vendor agreed to re-run quotes with the county's true mileage and upfit specifications, to email revised pricing, and to take the county’s outfit specifications directly to upfitters. - Commissioners asked staff to compare those revised lease proposals to local procurement alternatives and to consider whether a hybrid approach (some leased, some purchased) makes sense.

Ending Commissioners did not make a procurement decision at the Sept. 23 work session. Staff and the vendor agreed to exchange detailed vehicle specifications and mileage data and to return with clarified, comparable pricing and lifecycle scenarios so the board can decide whether to proceed with a leasing program, purchase, or a hybrid approach.