Commission approves $200/ton coal bid to heat courthouse; estimated 20 tons, about $4,000

The commission approved a bid to purchase coal for the Hampshire County Courthouse from Friend Products at $200 per ton. County staff said the building’s maintenance estimates call for roughly 20 tons this year, “which would put us at about $4,000 for heat for the building this year,” a county official said. The motion to accept the bid was made and seconded and the commission voted aye; the chair announced the motion passed. Commissioners and staff briefly discussed the price and the building’s fuel needs but did not reopen a more detailed procurement discussion at the Sept. 23 meeting. Why it matters: the county must secure heating fuel for an older courthouse building; the commission approved a single-season supply based on estimated usage. The county did not attach additional procurement conditions at the meeting; staff will proceed with the vendor contract for the delivered coal as approved by the commission.