With more than 15 inches of precipitation so far this year, there’s no doubt this spring will bring out swarms of mosquitoes, experts say.As of April 1, county employees will use rental cars instead of driving their own vehicle for any trip of more than 75 miles.
The Allen County commissioners approved the new policy Friday with Commissioner Nelson Peters noting that the policy will cut down on costs and pare down the number of county-owned vehicles.
The county has been paying employees’ mileage – $0.565 a mile – and for a round trip to Indianapolis the reimbursement was more than $140, said Chris Cloud, administrative assistant to the commissioners.
The county will be able to utilize a state contract with Enterprise Rent-A-Car and obtain a car for $26.99 a day, Cloud said.
Commissioner Therese Brown has already participated in a pilot program of the rental policy.
Brown said she recently spent a few days in Indianapolis on county business and used a rental car. The bill from Enterprise was about $73, she said.
“The mileage (reimbursement) would have been considerably higher,” she said.
Employees will first be urged to form a car pool with a county vehicle whenever possible, Peters said.
Rental vehicles are to be refueled at one of the county fueling stations, and if someone uses more gasoline while traveling, they will be reimbursed, Cloud said.
The rentals will be applicable only for standard-size rental cars or mini vans for more than four passengers, according to the policy.
The county currently has 180 passenger vehicles and light trucks and 115 police cars, not including vans, motorcycles and SWAT vehicles, said Robert Bolenbaugh, county purchasing director.
Of the three commissioners, only Linda Bloom drives a county-owned vehicle.
