Commissioners reject immediate purchase of three Chevy Colorados for planning fleet amid questions on justification and budget

The Bonner County Board of Commissioners on June 9 declined a motion to purchase three 2026 Chevy Colorado trucks for the planning compliance division, citing insufficient documentation, budget constraints and lack of comparative analysis.

Kendra Smith, planning director, presented a lease-vs-purchase comparison and said the department currently leases Trailblazers that have become unsuitable for winter roads and ruts; she proposed the Colorado for its higher clearance and durability. Smith reported immediate maintenance needs for the leased vehicles, including tires costing about $3,600.

Several commissioners pressed Smith for evidence that Trailblazers had stranded staff repeatedly and for comparative proposals beyond the Chevy Colorado. “I’m not agreeable to being told that other things were looked at without having that being presented,” one commissioner said, requesting incident reports and a fuller cost analysis before committing to a large capital purchase.

A motion to proceed with purchasing the three 2026 Chevy Colorados and bring back final documentation for approval was made and seconded, followed by public comment from Doug Patterson asking why all vehicles must be identical. After deliberation emphasizing the need for budget impact details and more research, the chair called a roll call vote. The recorded votes were “No” and “Commissioner Williams: No,” and the chair announced the motion does not pass.

Commissioners suggested options to avoid a rushed decision while the lease term is being addressed: extend the lease, purchase tires now to keep vehicles operational, and direct staff to return with a compare-and-contrast analysis and budget implications for purchase versus lease.