County looks to out-source routine vehicle maintenance

The Grady County Commission is poised to enter into an agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management to oversee the maintenance and servicing of the county’s 62-vehicle fleet.

Chelsea Karol of Enterprise Fleet Management, who previously presented a recommendation to the board last year, appeared before the county commission this week to discuss the service agreement.

Under the proposal, the county would pay Enterprise $6 per vehicle per month to enroll in the program, or $372 per month total.

Enterprise will negotiate a set fee for all service work through local venders in the county.

“This process will free up our shop to focus on the larger and more pressing vehicle maintenance and repair issues while at the same time improve our fleet management. The cost will be the same or less than the current cost of doing the service ourselves,” said J.C. (Buddy) Johnson III, Grady County administrator.

The county’s vehicle maintenance shop is down to three employees, and Johnson says they do not need to be pulled away from major repairs to do routine service.

Commissioners requested assurances that local companies would be included in Enterprise’s list of approved vendors.

Karol said that any local business not currently on Enterprise’s approved list of vendors could be added and she would work to assist local vendors in becoming approved.

Grady County Commission Chairman Keith Moye asked if Johnson had discussed the program with shop superintendent Chris Dix. Johnson said he had and originally Dix had reservations, but Johnson said that the shop superintendent is now supportive of the plan.

Commissioner Phillip Drew asked whether vendors would be held accountable for costly mistakes. Karol said that any issues would be investigated by Enterprise personnel and vendors would be held accountable.

“We need to make sure they all have liability insurance to cover that,” Commissioner Drew said. Karol insisted Enterprise requires proof of liability insurance from approved vendors.

Drew also highlighted the agreement can be canceled with a 60-day notice from either party.

Commissioner June Knight voiced her reluctance to approve the plan without knowing if local vendors were included on the approved list with Enterprise.

“We will not sign it unless we have all or the majority of local vendors on the approved list. We have some top notch vendors here and anyone who is not on the list can be added,” administrator Johnson said.

The board voted unanimously to enter into the agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management contingent on local vendors being included on the approved vendor list.

The program does not include heavy-duty vehicles and equipment owned by the county, but all passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks and Sheriff’s Office vehicles are included in the plan.

Grady County Commissioner Ray Prince was absent Tuesday night and was not present for the discussion, but he did take part in the original presentation last fall.