Committee approves leasing vehicle for Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division investigator

The Brainerd City Personnel and Finance Committee on Dec. 15 authorized staff to replace a 2014 department-owned police vehicle with a leased vehicle for the Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division investigator.

Police Chief John Davis told the committee the Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division (LAD Task Force) will begin receiving state funding in 2026 that includes $7,800 annually designated to offset investigator vehicle expenses. He said a quote from Enterprise showed an annual lease cost of $6,293 and that the remaining allocation—about $1,500—would cover most of the insurance premium. "The only equipment required for this vehicle is a radio, which the department already owns," Davis said.

Davis told members the leased vehicle would replace a 2014 city-owned unit that is 12 years old; without a lease, the current car likely would need about $2,000 in air-conditioning repairs to remain serviceable. He noted an estimated resale value of roughly $8,000 in 2026 if repairs were completed before sale. Staff recommended authorizing the replacement in 2026 and the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

The committee did not provide a roll-call tally in the public transcript; the action was recorded as a voice vote and described as carried. The lease was presented as fiscally covered by the LAD allocation and not expected to require additional capital outlay for outfitting.

Next steps: staff will proceed with the lease authorization and administration, and the department will retire the 2014 vehicle as described.