Kincardine council has chosen to lease a vehicle for a one-year collaboration with Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (SMART).
Through the 2025 budget process, council had approved an enhancement of SMART services within the municipality.
The mobility service had provided two options for council to choose from, to either purchase a vehicle, or to lease a SMART vehicle for the duration.
The option approved by council was to enter into a lease agreement to use a SMART 9-passenger van, and hire a driver and pay for additional costs including insurance, fuel, and maintenance of a vehicle.
The expected expense is $70,000.
While council agreed on a vehicle lease, there was concern about the timing of the start and end dates for the one-year deal.
“One of my challenges is with out budget year and it being the last year of our term, I’m curious whether the SMART board would be potentially willing – and whether council would also be willing – to look at a 15-month agreement, so that the agreement would be able to be renegotiated or considered in the next budget cycle,” suggested Councillor Beth Blackwell. “Because if it was to end in November or December, we will be in what we would call the Lame Duck period, unable to make a commitment, and the new council may not be in a position yet to continue it. I would be concerned about a gap in service.”
A representative from SMART shared that the board would be open to the slight change.
Deputy Mayor Andrea Clarke shared that while she was happy to accept the lease option, she shared what she would hope for in the future.
“The hope is perhaps there is the potential of purchasing a second-hand vehicle for a reasonable cost at the end of the lease,” she said. “But I certainly support moving forward with this.”
With council agreeing to the lease option, staff has been directed to bring back a by-law to enact the agreement.