Discussions will continue into next month on a new proposal for a lease agreement program between the City of Emporia and a major rental car company.
Enterprise Fleet Management based in St. Louis is looking to enter into a partnership with the city wherein Enterprise would help supply vehicles to the city’s fleet through the leveraging of major manufacturers. According to Ken Olsen, Enterprise Fleet Management Account Executive, an agreement between the two entities would give the city a “dedicated, local account team that would help to manage and develop” the city’s fleet of vehicles.
Historically, the city has purchased its own fleet of vehicles and maintained those vehicles internally. Olsen says the program could relate to significant cost savings to the city.
City Treasurer Janet Harouff gave her nod of approval to the program saying the city would essentially be maximizing its quality and quantity of vehicles at a more favorable price.
To fund the program, Olsen has suggested the city look into establishing a new fund to handle equity from vehicle sales to help fund the continued replacement of fleet vehicles. As for maintenance and upkeep, Olsen says the source of these services would be entirely up to the city commission to decide.
Commissioners plan to resume conversations on the possible partnership during their May 18th meeting.
In other business, commissioners resumed conversations on a new infrastructure insurance program through HomeServe. HomeServe is a UK-based multinational home emergency repair and improvement company, seeking an NLC service line warranty program agreement with the city of Emporia.
The program, if approved by commissioners, would provide up to $8,500 in water and sewer line repairs each and up to $3,000 for indoor plumbing repairs at a minimal monthly cost to homeowners who opt-in.
Commissioner Susan Brinkman says she finds no “red flags” with the program, however, she wants to make it clear HomeServe would be a separate entity from the city.
Commissioners may approve a contract with HomeServe next week.
The Emporia City Commission will convene next Wednesday at 11 am inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium for a trial run of its new combination action and study session format.
