Peachtree City officials are exploring ways to downsize the city’s vehicle fleet, particularly in an effort to ditch gas-guzzlers in favor of more economical vehicles. The move comes after several critical letters to the editor in The Citizen and multiple emails to city officials.
City Manager Jim Pennington pointed to his own city vehicle, a Ford Explorer.
“Why does a city manager need an Explorer? I have no clue,” Pennington said.
There are also questions about why supervisors and superintendents are driving Ford F250s rather that F150s or Rangers, Pennington said.
“These are all issues we are looking at,” Pennington said, noting the review has taken some time but will include justification for the types of vehicles needed for each position.
Pennington said staff is preparing a proposal, and also is exploring other options such as selling decommissioned police cars instead of handing them down to other departments in the city.
“Those cars can bring in a significant amount of money,” Pennington told council in an informal briefing Thursday night.
The city is also studying a possible pilot project with a firm that would own and maintain the city’s vehicle fleet. Currently the city leases and maintains its entire fleet.
Pennington said that beyond the police department, there are very few employees who “take home” a city vehicle.
Pennington said the city has received a significant amount of emails from city residents asking about the city’s vehicle fleet. Nonetheless, the fleet has been one of his concerns since he first took the job, Pennington added.
“So we’re taking a real hard look at this, and there could be some changes that will be very significant and the city may take some huge vehicles and get rid of them, selling them,” Pennington said.
Once staff’s recommendation is ready, it will be brought to council for consideration, Pennington said.
