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Lease-to-buy program moves forward

The La Salle County Board is inching closer to creating a new squad car rotation cycle to replace high-mileage cars in the fleet.

Sheriff Tom Templeton plans to present to Finance Committee members a proposal entailing a lease-to-buy program, which could provide the sheriff's office with seven new squads this year and each following year.

The county previously had a rotation cycle in which new squads were purchased every year, but because of lack of funds, that program was eliminated in 2004.

Squad cars, some which are approaching or have surpassed the 200,000-mile mark, continue to break down, and three of 28 squads used for patrol now are undriveable because of engine problems. Board members are faced with replacing those high-mileage vehicles.

"This is not going to stop; it's just a progression," Templeton told members of the county's Sheriff and County Radio and Court Security Committee Friday.