Tyler

By ROY MAYNARD
Staff Writer

Smith County commissioners will consider establishing an even larger bulk fuel storage depot, to be located at either the Low Risk Facility near the northwest corner of Loop 323 or at the Smith County 9-1-1 Communications District building on Spur 248.

They could eventually decide to put depots in both places.

Buying fuel in bigger quantities will help save money, as prices on oil-based fuel and materials continue to rise, commissioners say. The county’s costs for those products have topped $1 million for fiscal year 2008.

“That is a staggering number, but it means that we must do what every family and every business is doing, and that is actively, constantly looking for ways to manage our dollars smarter,” says Commissioner JoAnn Fleming. “We are going to do everything we can to survive the hit the current budget is taking from rising fuel costs.”

In Monday’s meeting of the Commissioners Court, Purchasing Director Kelli Davis updated the court on steps being taken, including locating a site for an additional fuel depot.

The Low Risk Facility and 9-1-1 sites are both viable, Ms. Davis reported. Now she’ll look into prices for storage tanks — the bigger the better, Ms. Fleming contends. The county has storage capability for 17,000 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline. But she’d like to see that increased by another 10,000 gallons or more.

“We will add additional storage capacity as a hedge against rising fuel costs and to ensure that we have necessary fuel supplies for law enforcement and emergency services in the event of a curtailment of fuel supplies,” Ms. Fleming says. “Buying tanker-load quantities of fuel and being able to buy when the markets are down will save taxpayer dollars. When this is completed, we will have additional bulk sites for our county fleet, and those sites will be secure and highly monitored to deter and prevent both internal and external theft.”

Commissioners also approved a letter thanking city of Tyler Vehicle Services Director Russ Jackson and Beckat Oil Company President Robert Eckeberger for their help and guidance in developing the fuel efficiency plan.

In other business on Monday, commissioners approved:

q?Payment of bills and payroll, transfers of funds, health claims and budget transfers and amendments.

q?Utility and pipeline installation requests.

q?Easements and plats.

q?Resolution honoring Dr. Jerome Milton.

q?Appointments to sick leave pool committee.

q?Contracts for elevator services and inmate telephone services.

q?Bids for meals, printed forms, case binders.

q?Auction of roofing machine and roofing materials.

q?Mandatory direct deposit for elections department staff.

q?Treasurer/auditor report for June.