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FORT PUBLIC WORKS GETTING “LOW ON FUEL”

The Fort Fairfield Public Works Department is not yet halfway through its fiscal year, but has already spent over half of its fuel budget.

According to Public Works director, George Watson, the town budgeted for diesel fuel in May, 2007 at $2.25 per gallon, but the price has risen substantially since then.

“When we budgeted, diesel was around $2.00 per gallon and we hadn’t seen it much higher than that,” said Watson. “So, we guessed high and went with the $2.25 figure. Our last load of diesel came in at $2.85.”

The town council approved $45,000 for the 2007-2008 Public Works diesel fuel line. Watson says as of October, his department has used $26,000 of it. So, not halfway through their budget year, the Public Works Department has already spent 57% of their budgeted amount for diesel fuel.

Coming into the winter season, Watson assures the people that the roads will be plowed through the winter. “We’re not going to stop plowing the roads, but we may not be out as often. We can also shift a few things around to help find the money for fuel.”

In the past, Public Works would send a dump truck out to check the roads prior to the weekend and spot-sand or plow back any problem areas. “We may have to send out a small truck to do the checking and send the big truck out only where needed.”

While winter is where the Public Works’ trucks see most of their use, they are also used in the other seasons for ditching, culverts, gravel hauling and general road maintenance. However, they are not used on paving projects, since they are not set up for that application.