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Council gives preliminary OK to explore used police vehicles to reduce cost
Summary
Cresco staff reported options to purchase low-mileage used police vehicles that could allow replacement of two older cars for roughly the price of one new vehicle; council told staff to continue researching options and return with recommendations if a viable deal is found.
City staff told the Cresco City Council on April 6 that a vendor lists low-mileage, recently retired fully equipped police vehicles that may allow the city to replace two aging patrol cars for about the cost of one new vehicle. Staff noted the vehicles are often sold by other agencies on short replacement cycles and some come fully equipped, which reduces upfitting costs.
Council members asked about warranties, vehicle types (Dodge Chargers discussed), and logistics; staff said examples examined were a couple of years old with roughly 20,000 miles. Council members generally supported staff researching these options further and authorized staff to pursue leads; final purchase decisions would be brought back to council and abide by purchasing rules.
Why it matters: Replacing aging fleet vehicles is a recurring municipal expense. Buying recently retired, low-mileage fleet vehicles can reduce upfront costs and let the city replace more vehicles sooner, but council must weigh warranty, upfit, and long-term maintenance considerations.
