Miami County commissioner briefs council on sewer, road and emergency services; warns local fuel supplier could close if city switches primary fuel program

Tyler Bunn, Miami County commissioner and owner of Spring Hill Oil Company, told the Spring Hill City Council on March 27 that several county projects that affect Spring Hill are moving forward and that contracting choices by the city could have economic impacts beyond municipal boundaries.

Bunn said the Bucyrus sewer project has completed land acquisition except for one parcel and is expected to start in May with a year‑end completion target. He described a $5,500,000 project on 220 Third that will reclaim the base for about 2.5 miles and add a 2‑inch overlay, work he has pursued for several years, and said the county hopes to partner with the city and state on a larger, roughly $15,000,000 widening project in the future. He also reported the Hillsdale EMS station will be completed in April and will add an extra fire bay for apparatus.

The commissioner spoke at length about Spring Hill Oil Company, which he said he purchased in 2020 and which has supplied the city and Spring Hill schools with fuel. “If you were to move your fuel 100% to a WEX card and use your local quick trip, Spring Hill Oil will close, it will go out of business,” Bunn said, adding that his business carries invoices for the city, files for fuel‑tax reimbursements on the city’s behalf and offers payment terms that he said help local cash flow. He asked the council to consider keeping Spring Hill Oil as a regular vendor rather than switching all fuel purchases to a national fleet card provider.

Bunn also urged the council to continue negotiations with the city’s existing rural water partner. He said the city’s move toward contracting with a Johnson County provider called WaterOne had not been finalized and warned that, if executed, Rural Two would raise rates by 30% for Miami County users who participate in that program because Spring Hill represents about 30% of Rural Two’s business. “If you move that contract, that upgrade goes away, and rates go up for everybody,” he said, urging continued conversation with Rural Two’s representatives.

Council members asked follow‑up questions about truck routing, pedestrian and bike facilities on 220 Third, and timing for the road work. Bunn said the county will pursue bike lanes for the larger 220 Third corridor and noted federal/state grant rules that previously favored certain projects at Metropolitan Area Regional Council (MARC) level had changed, creating different funding opportunities.

The council did not take formal action on matters Bunn raised during his remarks; the comments were made during the public participation period and as part of information shared with council members.