Commissioners review Enterprise lease proposal for sheriff fleet; first‑year outlay and contract review requested

Enterprise Fleet Management representatives told Bourbon County commissioners on Sept. 22 that a structured, multi‑year fleet lease and rotation could replace the sheriff’s aging vehicles and reduce maintenance costs while returning resale equity to the county.

What the company proposed

Ken Olsen of Enterprise and a colleague presented a plan that would roll in pursuit‑style Tahoe units, two passenger vans and a pickup in an initial tranche. Olsen summarized his cost and implementation assumptions: orders placed this month would likely deliver vehicles in early 2026 and payments would begin only after vehicles were delivered and upfitted. The company’s analysis projected a multi‑year average annual net cost of about $163,000 after equity returns; for year 1 the sheriff’s side would see higher up‑front outlays tied to aftermarket equipment and partial lease payments. In the meeting, commissioners and staff discussed an approximate first‑year funding need (figures discussed at the meeting included an outfitting/upfit figure approaching $145,000 and a year‑one lease/annualized lease component discussed around $108,000 for the Tahoe units; staff estimated a conservative first‑year cash requirement around $280,000 when outfitting and prorated lease payments were included).

Why the board is considering it

County officials said the sheriff’s fleet includes many vehicles with high maintenance costs and age (the fleet’s light‑duty average model year was described by Enterprise as roughly 2008). Commissioners heard Enterprise’s argument that replacing older units in a managed rotation could reduce maintenance expense and provide resale equity that offsets future replacement costs.

Budget timing and contract review request

Commissioners stressed they needed to align any commitment with the county’s budget calendar and asked to see a full contract and credit application before any vehicle order or financial commitment. Commissioner Milburn said she needed counsel’s review before the board approved any master agreement. Commissioners asked Enterprise to provide the master equity lease agreement and the vendor’s credit application to county counsel and to staff for review; Enterprise said those documents would not financially obligate the county by themselves but were required for ordering allocations that may be time‑sensitive (company representatives said Tahoe allocations could expire by month‑end).

No vote; next steps

No contract was approved. The board authorized staff and counsel to review the proposed master equity lease agreement and promised a follow‑up conversation about the budget implications in a special‑meeting budget session. Commissioners explored using county sales‑tax proceeds that currently supplement jail operations as a funding stream but also expressed concern about long‑term reliance on that source if the sales tax ends or priorities change.

Ending

Commissioners asked Enterprise to send contractual documents to county counsel and the clerk for vetting. Counsel and staff will provide an advisory opinion before the board considers ordering vehicles or approving financing.