Effingham County commissioners approved a new contract for maintenance, going with First Vehicle Services.

By a 4-0 vote, commissioners approved the $787,261 contract to maintain the county’s fleet of cars, trucks and other wheeled vehicles. Commissioners had been waiting to OK the contract pending Assistant County Attorney Eric Gotwalt’s review.

Gotwalt said there were two issues with the proposed contract. County Administrator Ed Williams proposed that a new clause be put in for contract extension that the county would extend the contract on a month-to-month basis, not to exceed three months, at the current per month cost plus the consumer price index if warranted.

“It looks like a good idea and it provides the county some additional protection,” Gotwalt said.

Gotwalt also wanted the contract to more clearly define a termination for convenience, rather than it being
for a reason other than cause.

First Vehicle will supply the labor while the county will provide the facilities. The cost of parts needed for repairs will be passed on to the county.

The county also will receive a monthly recap of expenses.

The county has approximately 271 cars, trucks, vans, buses, fire trucks and ambulances.

Their fleet also includes road graders, trailers, bulldozers, mowers and generators.

The county’s deal with OMI’s vehicle services division ended earlier this year, but the deal was extended on a month-to-month basis while the county searched for a new provider.

First Vehicle Services was one of three finalists for the contract, including All Star and Penske.