School board approves capital transfer for district-owned fuel tanks after heated debate

The Montgomery County Public Schools Board voted to ask the Board of Supervisors for a capital project transfer of $1,047,509 to finance district-owned fuel tanks, accepting a plan the division says will allow bulk fuel purchases and reduce fuel-related service interruptions.

Proponents said owning fuel storage would let the division buy at lower bulk prices, add winter anti‑gelling additives directly, and reduce outages caused when contaminants or water affect offsite pumps. Eddie Waters, director of transportation, told the board the vendor proposal covered five above‑ground tanks — four 10,000‑gallon diesel tanks and one 3,000‑gallon gasoline tank — and included installation, a fuel‑management system, training and maintenance at a purchase/installation cost of $873,169. Waters and purchasing supervisor Jordan Stump said the quoted per‑gallon price from a local bulk supplier was $2.49 compared with current retail prices they cited of about $3.60–$3.65 per gallon, producing an estimated annual savings “of $200,000 to $400,000” (the administration’s estimate).

Board members pressed details about location, security and environmental risk. Waters said the tanks would sit at four district sites (Auburn area near Auburn High School; Eastern Montgomery High School near the bus charging island; Bridal Fork Elementary at a field/entrance area; and the operations center), with the gas tank at the operations center. He described a key‑fob and PIN system to control dispensing, double‑walled construction, concrete barriers and fencing; the vendor claimed the design resists vehicle impact and ballistic damage. He also said the system would include spill alarms and monitoring but said he would follow up with written details on spill‑cleanup responsibilities and how a spill might affect remaining fuel.

Board members raised process and timing questions: lead time for the tanks is 10–16 weeks and the administration planned installation over the summer if approved. Waters said the vendor proposed the district proceed quickly to order to meet a July 31 operational target. The administration reported it had solicited proposals through an RFP, selected a low bidder and planned to use capital funds; Waters said the county government had been invited to participate in a joint purchase but had not followed up.

After about an hour of questions from board members about security, oversight, RFP details and county participation, a motion to authorize the request to the Board of Supervisors for the capital transfer passed 4–2 (Miss Bond, Dr. Gentry, Miss Parton and Mr. Hudson voting yes; Miss Franklin and Miss Purcell voting no). The board chair announced the motion carried.

The vote authorizes the administration to seek the capital appropriation; it does not itself order construction or place vendor purchase orders beyond the procurement steps the administration described. Waters said the district will return with operational and implementation details as part of the capital project transfer and subsequent contracting steps.

Board members and the administration said they would provide written RFP documentation and spill‑response details to members who requested them.

Votes at a glance - Motion to authorize a capital project transfer request of $1,047,509 to the 2024–25 school operating budget to purchase and install five above‑ground fuel tanks (four 10,000‑gallon diesel tanks and one 3,000‑gallon gasoline tank) — Outcome: Approved; vote 4 yes, 2 no (mover/second not specified in minutes).