Leesburg commissioners have authorized the purchase of 19 vehicles for $896,340.
Five vehicles will be Ford Police Interceptors with four-wheel drive and a Ford F-150 four wheel drive responder vehicle. A lone Chevy Malibu is also slated for police use.
The wastewater department is getting four Ford pickups while the water department is getting two Ford pickups. The Public Works Department will receive a Chevy Silverado pickup and a Ford F-150 Super cab truck. The Leesburg Fire Department will receive two Ford Explorers while the city’s Gas Department will get a Ford F-550. All of these new vehicles will replace older vehicles used by each city department.
In his proposal to order these vehicles, Public Works Director Cliff Kelsey wrote that the “The current automotive and equipment market continues to be unstable and unpredictable. Lead times are long and prices are increasing, as well as the order windows from the automotive manufacturers are not certain and have limited availability.”
He also noted that manufacturers are, in some cases, cutting production of some fleet vehicles in favor of the retail market. To secure the purchase of these vehicles he recommended that the city issue letters of intent to purchase, which should secure the models for the coming year.
The city commissioners voted 5-0 to proceed with the purchases.
