Board approves transportation fuel-tank purchase with timing contingency to avoid shutdown

The Brighton Area Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to approve purchase of new above-ground fuel tanks for the transportation center, attaching a contingency that the district will choose the vendor that can commit to the needed delivery timeline.

At the meeting Mr. Jones, a district staff member, told the board the district had three quotes and that lead times varied. He warned trustees that the district’s inspector had given the transportation site a June deadline to have a contract in place for installation; if the district lacked a signed contract, the inspector could issue a stop-work order affecting the bus station. “My concern is we won't have it in time, and we could be stopped, given a stop work order, at the bus station if that happens,” Mr. Jones said.

Motion and amendment: the initial motion nominated the Hughes tank proposal. Board member Mr. Stall then offered an amendment: if Stan Wade (an alternate vendor) could commit to supplying tanks within 14 weeks, award the order to Stan Wade; if not, proceed with Hughes. Trustees supported the amended motion; the board recorded the action as passing 7-0.

Procurement details and costs: the selected configuration includes two above-ground tanks (a 20,000-gallon and a 10,000-gallon tank for gas and diesel). Administrators said the quoted price for tanks does not include installation; the district expects total project costs, including installation and site work, in the $500,000–$550,000 range and will return to the board with the installation contract. The board directed administration to call vendors to confirm lead times and to ensure an installer contract is in place by the inspector’s June deadline.

Next steps: staff will finalize the vendor selection based on delivery commitment, return installation bids and bring the installation contract back to the board for approval.