As vehicles and technology age out of service, the City of Battle Ground’s Replacement and Renewal (R&R) Program tackles rising replacement costs while promoting the reuse of its assets.
The program ensures that public services operate efficiently while reducing waste by keeping outdated technology and vehicles out of landfills.
Battle Ground Finance Director Meagan Lowery emphasized the importance of the R&R Program, explaining it was created to establish a dedicated fund for replacing vehicles and technology as they reach the end of their useful lifespans.
Lowery explained that the fund, established in 2012, was created to manage the increasing costs of replacing vehicles and computers. This city fund allows the public works and police departments to help replace their vehicles and technology with proceeds from sold assets.
“The city established it back in 2012 as a long-term solution to an expensive problem,” Lowery explained, noting the cost of vehicles has risen significantly. “When you have a large number of vehicles [to replace], there comes a cost, and you can’t ultimately [spend] that kind of money at one time, just like any sort of home expense, and so [funds are] split for each vehicle or technology.”
Lowery elaborated on the process, noting that city departments assess the lifespan of each asset — be it a vehicle or a computer — before scheduling it for replacement. For instance, police vehicles typically have an average service life of about five years, as prolonged time spent in the shop can cost more than keeping them on the road. As the cost to maintain vehicles exceeds the costs of replacement, they are sold or auctioned to the community.
On average, the city replaces five public works vehicles and four police vehicles each year.
Lowery noted that, in line with state requirements, Battle Ground plans to incorporate more fuel-efficient vehicles in the future. She added that the city may consider electric vehicles as they become more widely available and cost-effective.
Reuse of assets
To comply with state environmental mandates, the city sells or auctions off technology and vehicles slated for replacement. The policy promotes sustainability by giving these assets a second life.
“We never send [those assets] to landfill. It’s always either gone to auction houses or to another user [who] may not use it to the same degree that we use it … That money comes back to the city and to the same [division] fund,” Lowery explained.
Communications Manager Alisha Smith explained the city announces intended sales or auctions on social media. Readers can find the city’s Facebook page at facebook.com/CityofBGWA.
At press time, city staff were preparing to list the sale of a former police vehicle, a 2016 Ford Explorer, for $10,000. Should vehicles not find a purchaser, the city instead sends the vehicle or technology to an auction, with proceeds returning to the city.