ANN ARBOR, MI – A plan by the city of Ann Arbor, Mich., to replace 13 vehicles with 40,000 or fewer miles was halted by one council member, according to www.mlive.com. The approval for the purchase of new vehicles was put on the city council's "consent agenda." Items on the consent agenda aren't considered big-ticket issues and are usually voted through as a group. Council Member Chris Easthope contested whether cars with so little use really needed to be replaced. City officials were prompted to change their policy on how they determine when a vehicle should be replaced once Easthope's concerns were voiced. A 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier with 17,609 miles needed $1,375 in repairs. A 1998 Dodge Ram van with 16,600 miles needed $475 in repairs. These were two of the 13 cars the city wanted to replace. Seven vehicles the city wanted to replace were pulled back once the policy was changed. The staff was also forced to incorporate a more structured process as to when to replace the older vehicles. Vehicles are graded on a point system for age, usage, type of service, reliability, maintenance, and repair cost and condition.
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