County approves fleet-lease contracts; staff say electric-vehicle pilot remains possible

Shawnee County commissioners on May 28 approved contracts C2026188–C2026190 with Enterprise Fleet Management under the county's early-order strategy (resolution 2018-22) to replace vehicles reaching the end of their leases or useful lives.

Parks and Recreation Director Tim Lorent briefed the board on options for replacing vehicles and said staff had investigated all-electric models. He said the county previously leased a Ford Lightning electric pickup in 2023 and that its operating costs over the past three years were roughly half those of a comparable gas truck: "it was about half of what a normal pickup would have been," Lorent said. But he told commissioners that higher acquisition and delivery costs continue to complicate full electrification: delivery cost on the Lightning was about $52,000 versus $42,000 for a gas model, and trade-in values reduced the economics in the county's early-buyback lease strategy (trade-in values cited were $32,450 for the Lightning and $33,358 for the gas model). Lorent offered sample three-year lease totals used in staff analysis: about $19,971 for the Lightning versus $9,620 for the gas pickup.

Lorent said the annual cost increase for the department's operating budget tied to the current package is expected to be approximately $38,962 and that staff will continue to monitor electric models and consider a pilot if manufacturers and leasing terms improve. "Once they come out, I think we've talked about maybe trying to do a pilot program," he said.

Commissioner Aaron Mays moved approval; Commissioner Bill Ripon seconded. The motion carried by voice vote (3-0). The contracts will proceed under the county's early-order strategy meant to enable predictable fleet turnover.

The board did not set a formal timeline for an EV pilot; Lorent said staff will return with options when vehicle availability and lease terms make a pilot feasible.