Windsor officials discuss ways to save money to help pay for diesel fuel tank

by Sandy Isaac

At the August 6 Windsor selectmen’s meeting, board members and Public Works Supervisor Keith Hall discussed ways to save money in order to help pay for the planned new diesel fuel tank. The 1,000 or 2,000 gallon tank alone, which town officials hope to have installed before winter, is estimated to cost between $10,000 and $13,000. Since the retirement of John Moody, who provided round the clock fueling in the past, was announced after the 2019-2020 budget was created, funding for the proposed tank installation was not included. The diesel tank would enable trucks to refuel after hours or overnight as needed during snow storms.

Selectmen will be entertaining bids for a new public works garage, which was included in the voter-approved budget. Once that process is completed, selectmen will review the final cost and, they hope, shift some funds over to the diesel tank project.

In the case of an unforeseen emergency, the town manager and the selectmen can request a meeting with the budget committee and seek approval for any cost over $25,000. The selectmen, along with Hall and Town Manager Theresa Haskell, think they should be able to diverge enough money to get the tank installed. The process however, will be contingent upon the garage construction cost. If garage bids come in at full priced authorized, town officials will have to look at alternative funds for the diesel tank installation.

Hall also recommended cutting costs by holding off on installing heat in the proposed new garage until next year. He suggested the 1,000 gallon tank option, stating that any company would be willing to come in to refill the tank when necessary.

Town officials are putting up for sale two trucks, the 2003 International and the 2010 Ford F550. Sealed bids will be due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, September 3, and will be opened during the selectmen’s meeting that evening. Proceeds from the sales will go into the Public Works Truck Reserve Account, as approved at the town meeting.

In other business, Cemetery Sexton Joyce Perry, reported a generous anonymous donor contributed $5,000 to the Veterans Memorial, bringing the fund raising efforts up to 77 percent of the goal of $45,000. The fundraising group will continue to offer concrete or granite pavers for sale, which will be placed at the Veterans’ Memorial site, to help raise money for the efforts.