This week's headlines

Want to save a lot of money on a gallon of gas?

Buy in volume.

Though the county's fuel bill for 2013 could top $1 million this year, by committing to purchase 289,000 gallons of the stuff, the county commissioners' price per gallon comes out looking pretty good, compared with what motorists currently find posted at the pump.

On Monday, the BoCC accepted a bid from Master Petroleum of Lazear for the county's annual fuel needs, and the total tab for four fuel types will top $1 million, if full bid amounts are used. Only Master bid for the county's fuel business this year.

The county's price for 250,000 gallons of diesel will be $822,375. That's $3.28 per gallon.

Add to that the 39,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline of three different grades at a total price of $122,084, and the year's bill tops the million-dollar mark by $4,459.

County operations foresee using 4,000 gallons of mid-grade unleaded at $3.16 per gallon.

The county's consumption of 30,000 regular unleaded gallons will be gotten for $3.07 a gallon.

There are 5,000 gallons of super unleaded in the county bid, and they come in at $3.45 per gallon.

In other business at their regular business meeting on March 4, the Board of County Commissioners dealt with the following matters:

• Constituent Charlie Huff of Crawford asked the board if it intended to do anything to protect Second Amendment rights of county citizens.

Specifically, he wanted to know whether or not the commissioners are considering making a public written position statement with regard to "absolutely prohibiting the enforcement or prosecution of any Delta County resident for any legislation at any level of government ... which is blatantly an infringement of our Second Amendment Constitutionally guaranteed naturel right(s)."

Huff said the current legislative initiatives against firearms "have nothing to do with public safety as far as law abiding citizens are concerned." He added that, "Criminals will always get a weapon."

"We will probably be discussing that at some point in time, depending on how the issue plays out" in the General Assembly, said commission chair Doug Atchley.

Atchley also noted that it is the responsibility of the county sheriff to enforce laws, a job the commissioners do not interfere with. The commissioners have control over the sheriff's budget only, Atchley noted.

As the commissioners met on Monday the General Assembly was in session and discussion of several gun control proposals was taking place.

• The commissioners watched a slide presentation on the mission and work of Region 10, the Montrose-based non-pro-fit that performs program management functions, advocacy, funding assistance, and other services for member governments in six counties, including Delta County.

• Emergency manager Rob Fiedler reported Grand Mesa snowpack has improved markedly in recent weeks. The Surface Creek drainage has been more highly favored with snow than the North Fork and Upper Gunnison Basin have been, Fiedler said, adding that more snow is needed.

• < Prev
• Next >