La Ronge administration is currently examining the cost of a bulk fuel system for municipal vehicles. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

fuel purchases

New town shop could include self-managed bulk fuel system

Apr 26, 2019 | 1:48 PM

With construction of the town’s new $2.3 million public works shop starting next week, administration was told at a regular council meeting Wednesday to look into the cost of buying a self-managed bulk fuel system.

That was according to a request made by Coun. Glen Watchel, who said a cardlock or key fob fuel system should be added to the lot to make gasoline purchases more efficient. He noted the system would be available 24 hours per day, adding administration will also be able to track which vehicles are using more fuel than others.

“All our fuel needs should be in our yard,” Watchel said. “We should have a bulk gas tank in the town shop. It eliminates all of this other driving around or whatever.”

Town employees currently purchase fuel in two ways, which includes accessing the cardlock at Petro-Canada in Air Ronge, as well as buying bulk diesel and gasoline from Bluewave Energy (an agent on La Ronge Petroleum). That business is owned by Coun. Hugh Watt and the tenders for bulk fuel was approved back in December.

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“In that contract, there was bulk fuel and cardlock,” he said. “Ourselves being the only bona fide bidder, the other contracts being late in the tender closing, we were unable at that particular point to supply a cardlock fuel, but we could supply the needs of the town supplying bulk fuel. To my knowledge our figure was accepted and the town would carry on with your present supplier of cardlock fuel.”

It’s unknown what the cost of a fuel system will be and Coun. Jordan McPhail expressed concerns if the municipality would save enough money in the long-term to justify the cost. Watt stated it could take two or three years to recoup the investment and Watchel also acknowledged it would take time.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno