Washington County changes fuel contract

WASHINGTON — Washington County supervisors have signed off on one major change to the local government’s fuel contract. For the next year, gas prices from county providers will change by the day, rather than the month.

“Traditionally we have bid this so that the fuel price is set once a month,” County Engineer Jacob Thorius said. “Talking with some other counties and entities, they think there’s a little less risk for the supplier standpoint … if we change prices daily, similar to what happens at the pump.”

While it’s impossible to know for sure how effective the change would be, Thorius said it would hopefully be net less expensive.

“If you can see that crystal ball it’s great, but sometimes we’re going to win, sometimes we’re going to lose,” he said. “Prices were actually going down in the month of May, it would’ve saved us some money, so we’re going to try it for a year.”

Thorius also said it would it would simplify the county’s interactions with fuel providers.

“It takes the game away where prices are high for the month and they see things have gone down, and they make sure that we’re full on that last day of the month … even though we don’t really need fuel,” he said. “It also prevents the game where they’re waiting as long as possible to fill us up when prices are low and they see prices (are) going up.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com