By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Atmore City Council, sitting one member short, held a first reading of a proposed resolution to purchase two fuel storage tanks to replace the antiquated tanks the city currently uses.
The four council members (District 2’s Jerome Webster was unable to attend) held off on final consideration of the measure after City Attorney Larry Wettermark advised that one aspect of the purchase is still up in the air.
“Larry wants to make sure the card-reader system we have is compatible with the new tanks,” City Clerk Becca Smith said. “We’re still going to get the tanks, but we have to know if the card-readers will work with them before we move forward.”
The quartet of council members are expected to adopt Resolution 2025-03 at their next session. The resolution authorizes the purchase of one 4,000-gallon, double-wall fuel tank and one 2,000-gallon, double-wall fuel tank from Alabama Tank, Inc. at a total cost of $28,350.
According to the proposed resolution, the 4,000-gallon tank will cost $17,550; the smaller tank will cost $10,800. The new fuel storage tanks will replace ones owned by McMurphy Oil Company, which currently supplies gas and diesel fuel to the city.
Smith said the city plans to initiate a Request For Proposal (RFP) from local and area fuel providers once the tank purchase becomes official. The RFP will require bidders to have a local business license and that bidders do not have any past due obligations to the city.
In the only other business conducted at Monday’s meeting, council members approved a request by Brandon Tanner to use Houston Avery Park from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, for “Bring Love Back to the Community.” Tanner was not present at the meeting, so no further details were available.