The Washington County Quorum Court voted to transfer $665,500 from existing budgets to pay for construction of a new county fuel island, approving the ordinance on a roll call vote after extended discussion of procurement, operating costs and timing.

The county judge, presiding, said county staff had rebid the project to include both above-ground and below-ground tank options and that the bid closed Monday, Oct. 20. “If the road department handles, if it's below ground, the road department could handle a lot of that work, which would save the county money on the project,” the judge said during debate.

Dr. Atta, planning staff who summarized the item for the court, explained the project history to the panel: the county previously received bids for an in-ground tank and staff told the court that preliminary indications were the in-ground option could be less expensive because county crews could self-perform some work.

Supporters argued the project would reduce the county’s dependence on a single vendor and produce recurring fuel-cost savings. Justice Rio Stafford said the county’s comptroller produced a white paper estimating fuel‑cost savings that could repay the project within five or six years. “We could be paying less than what you would pay at a commercial gas station,” Rio Stafford said.

Opponents pressed for more time to allow all competitive bids to be received and to avoid committing capital before numbers were final. Justice Bruns urged waiting for all bids and cautioned about relying on staff estimates. Justice Koger questioned the need for a county-owned fuel island given commercial fueling options and raised concerns about long-term liability, environmental permits and maintenance costs.

Public commenters also asked for more detail on oversight and environmental compliance. Sherry Main, a resident, asked whether the county planned above-ground or buried tanks and expressed concern about off-site fueling of heavy equipment and DEQ oversight. Sarah Moore asked for fuller budget detail given other county spending pressures.

The ordinance moves previously budgeted savings (including insurance savings that staff said are sitting in departmental budgets) into a capital budget line so the county can pay for the fuel-island project once bids are awarded. Chief Stewart, called forward for technical questions, told the court that the $665,500 figure was based on an earlier in-ground bid and that preliminary responses on new bids suggested below-ground might be lower if the county self-performs portions of the work.

On the roll call, 14 members voted in favor and 1 opposed. The court included conditions in discussion for procurement oversight: the money appropriated is already budgeted, staff said, and unspent funds would remain in the fund at year end or be swept back into the general fund per normal year-end procedures.

The county judge and staff emphasized that the appropriation authorizes line‑item movement only; final spending awaits bid awards and contract execution. Staff also said tank fabrication lead times mean delaying the project into winter could push the schedule into the following year and that early work this season could reduce overall costs.

Action: The court passed the ordinance transferring $665,500 to fund the construction of a new county fuel island.

Speakers quoted in this report are those who spoke during the fuel-island item: County Judge (presiding), Dr. Atta (planning staff), Chief Stewart (county staff), Justice Rio Stafford, Justice Koger, Justice Bruns, Sherry Main (public commenter), Sarah Moore (public commenter).

Looking ahead, staff said they will return with bid results and recommended contract language; the court’s appropriation enables county staff to proceed when bids and vendor selection are complete.