County approves measures to address fuel cost changes

Being able to have access to the materials needed — and also staying within the allotted budget — is crucial for being able to maintain streets throughout the county.

With that in mind, the Coryell County Commissioners Court recently focused on issuing bids for paving aggregate and also for hauling and trucking of those materials to areas where they are needed.

One of the items added to the county's contracts is a fuel price escalation scale. Because of fluctuating fuel prices, companies that bring materials to Coryell County may seek to increase the amount of compensation they receive to cover costs.

Justin Latham, director of the county's road and bridge department, said while that is a fair and expected adjustment, he also wants to make sure the county is also not overpaying in those situations.

"We added a fuel surcharge sheet," Latham said. "On the last Monday of the month, we look at whatever the fuel price is and that is set for the cost for the next month. We are trying to do this in anticipation of (contractor price increases). No one will hold at a yearly price."

Addressing the possible price changes is something that helps protect the county, Latham said.

"This will avoid having a trucking company setting a price of $8 (for a gallon of fuel) when the actual cost may be $4," he said. "We will adjust the cost to cover anything over $4. So at 25 cents per mile, at 16 to 20 miles, we would pay $100 per load."

He said if fuel costs are set at $5 a gallon, the company hauling items for the county would have a percentage added to the base rate to cover the added cost.

"We are trying to make it equitable for them and for us," Latham said.

Without the added stipulations, Commissioner Keith Taylor noted that the county would lose money if the price of fuel decreases.

"And if it goes up, this would cover that," said County Attorney Brandon Belt.