The Marshall County Commissioners approved a contract for gas and diesel with one company – provided some language can be ironed out between the company and the county attorney.
Representatives from North-Central Co-op went before the commissioners Monday morning to discuss the agreement which allows for gasoline and diesel fuel at the highway department with a card reader system and tank monitoring. The company would install the hardware and software and equipment at the highway department at no up-front charge, but a four-and-a-half cent additional cost over the rack price will be assessed on fueling to pay for the cost of the equipment over a five-year period.
North-Central Co-op will also deliver blended fuel for the winter season.
Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters had previously explained to the commissioners that the department had been getting fuel from several different sources. He believed paring it down to one source would eliminate some issues at the department, including mixed fuels. North-Central Co-op was the only company to submit a bid in this process.
County Attorney Jim Clevenger requested some contract changes including language that would allow the county to go to another source in case they are not available to deliver fuel during a critical time, a funding cap, an annual renewal instead of an automatic renewal, and other changes.
The county highway department typically dispenses 100,000 gallons of gasoline and 90,000 gallons of diesel fuel in a year. Most of the vehicles used for county business fuel at the highway department.
With the understanding that the contract will include the diesel claim and the changes as approved by the county attorney, the commissioners approved the motion to go ahead with the contract.
Once the contract is finalized, which could be this week, crews will begin installing the computer software for the card reader system and for tank monitoring. The process could take up to six weeks.
