County feels pain at the pump, looks to conserve fuel
Marion County Commission is looking for ways to cut fuel costs — particularly in the road and bridge department.
During Monday's commission meeting, the lowest transport fuel bid was more than $20,000 for 5,500 gallons of diesel and 2,500 gallons of unleaded fuel.
"We're going to make some changes somewhere," commission chairman Randy Dallke said. "We're not going to be able to continue to grade roads like we've been doing."
He suggested that county motor graders be "shut down" for three weeks in the summer and the drivers could assist the department with road projects.
Mileage would be paid to motor grader operators when their personal vehicles are driven to job sites instead of the operators driving county equipment that isn't used for the project.
Commissioner Dan Holub suggested relocating fuel barrels to work areas.
Acting department supervisor Tom Holub told the commission that truck drivers were hauling aggregate from the Florence rock quarry because the Marion quarry does not have the needed materials.
Dallke asked Tom Holub and the department's other acting supervisors to discuss ways to reduce fuel consumption.
"This isn't anything new," Dan Holub said. "We were discussing this when (former supervisors Jim (Herzet) and Steve (Hudson) were here."
Sunflower Road start date may be delayed
Jon Halbgewachs of Kirkham Michael of Ellsworth, asked the commission, via telephone conference, for a later start date for the overlaying of Sunflower Road.
The engineer reported that contractors were asking for a later possible start date because of weather concerns.
Currently the bidding of the project requires the contractor to start the project no later than October. If there was an April deadline as the latest possible date to start the project, Halbgewachs said there might be more competitive bidding — resulting in a price reduction for the county.
The commission agreed that having the later start date option could result in a cost savings to the county. It was understood that the successful bidder could begin the overlay project from Marion city limits to U.S.-50 as soon as the contracts were signed.
Bids will be opened at 10 a.m. July 31.
In other business:
— Cardie Oil Company of Tampa had the low transport fuel bid of $20,836 for 5,500 gallons of diesel and 2,500 gallons of unleaded fuel at an approximate cost of $2.49 per gallon and $2.68 per gallon, respectively.
Cooperative Grain & Supply of Hillsboro also provided a bid of $22,115 for the same amount of fuel at an approximate cost of $2.50 per gallon for diesel and $2.74 for unleaded.
— Noxious weed director Rollin Schmidt advised the commission that he was going to take additional measures to enforce the removal of musk thistle from a pasture in Marion County.
Schmidt reported he had advised the property owner that he had to remove the noxious weed within the established time period but the property owner did not respond.
The commission advised Schmidt to enforce the county's requirements.
— The commission entered a 10-minute executive session for personnel issues to review applications for road and bridge supervisory positions.
