Commission asks staff to research school-board fuel cooperative pricing and continue procurement item

Staff presented the county's option to participate in the school board's cooperative fuel bid with Gate Fuel Services to lock in fixed pricing for a three-year period, noting the cooperative normally reduces price volatility for public fleets.

Commissioners questioned why dyed (off-road) diesel pricing in the school-board documents appeared higher in places and sought clarity on whether heavy equipment and certain county uses could utilize untaxed off-road diesel. Procurement staff explained the school-board bid used OPIS rack averages and vendor transport/tank-wagon assumptions; commissioners requested deeper review of tax treatment, delivery types, and whether a separate county RFP or state card program (WEX) would be preferable.

The board voted to continue the item for additional staff investigation and directed procurement to check with the school board about bid assumptions, examine off-road-diesel options and return with a recommendation.