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County approves resolution to speed turnover of totaled county lease vehicles
Summary
The Lubbock County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to streamline the insurance and title process for county lease vehicles deemed total losses, with staff estimating a cut in turnaround from roughly 37 days to under two weeks.
The Lubbock County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 8 approved Resolution 2025-09-122 to shorten the county's process for turning over county lease vehicles that insurers declare total losses.
Director Kellogg, who presented the measure, said the main delay is the mailing of titles from the leasing company and that streamlining could reduce the current nearly 37-day process to "less than 2 weeks." He told commissioners the county would still receive a determination from the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA) and would initiate the bill of sale quickly, and that MMRMA's salvage auction is run by a preselected group of bidders.
The change is intended to speed vehicle turnover to salvage buyers and reduce administrative lag. Commissioner Deaton moved the resolution, Commissioner Gross seconded, and the measure was approved by voice vote (passed; 8 yes, 0 no, 1 absent).
Several commissioners voiced caution during discussion. Commissioner Fiani said she favored retaining review by a lower committee and allowing the full board to inspect paperwork, saying she was "not convinced that the current 37 day model ... is so egregiously long." Commissioner Nakagiri suggested adopting the authority on a trial basis with an annual review during the budget process.
Commissioner Domas asked about the scale of the problem; Director Kellogg said the county averages about three county vehicles a year declared total losses over the past five years and that MMRMA's broader loss comparisons did not identify directly comparable counties. Kellogg said most total-loss claims stem from sheriff's office pursuits or incidents where deputies are struck while stopped.
Kellogg noted that MMRMA's salvage bids are typically valid for 10 days and said the county could move more quickly "if I didn't have to come back every time." The board approved the resolution with the direction to include the change in the annual budget review, as several commissioners requested.
The resolution directs staff to implement the revised process; the transcript records discussion, the vote and multiple requests that the change be revisited during future budget work.
