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 Staff photo/Katie Yantis: A truck dumps dirt along the Miami and Erie Canal towpath where it crosses Ohio 66. The project will make it easier for those using the towpath to cross Ohio 66.
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Hiker, bikers and walkers in the region will notice a
difference in a few sections of the Miami and Erie Canal towpath trail
starting this week.
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Departments in need of funding |
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Friday, 29 August 2008 |
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
WAPAKONETA — Increased fuel, propane and natural gas prices are causing departments and offices within the county to find other sources for extra money to cover costs.
Last week, increases in diesel fuel, but largely propane, have contributed to the need for additional funding in the Solid Waste supplies budget, District Coordinator Dave Reichelderfer said. Reichelderfer is the latest county department administrator to request a budget transfer to address high fuel costs.
Reichelderfer requested $7,000 additional from his cost allocation budget, which is typically set aside for unanticipated operation costs, be moved to the Solid Waste fund supplies line item. Commissioners, who approved the change, said he is just one of several department administrators facing that situation mid-year.
At the end of July, Auglaize County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Superintendent Al Willis requested a transfer of nearly $18,000 to meet increased fuel needs in his office for the remainder of the year.
Reichelderfer is hoping his request also will get him through the remaining four months of 2008.
He said through July, costs for propane to heat the Recycling Center on St. Marys River Road, as well as to operate lift trucks, totaled approximately $17,230, almost $9,000 more than the same time frame during 2007.
Diesel fuel costs totaling more than $8,000 pto run the six vehicles, mostly trucks, picking up recycling throughout Auglaize County for the first seven months of 2008 is another expense. In comparison, less than $5,500 was spent running the trucks five days a week in the county for all of 2007.
Although Reichelderfer accounted for increased fuel prices when he calculated the budget late last year, he said prices have been even higher than anticipated.
To keep prices lower, Reichelderfer said they are watching what they use as the heat isn’t turned on in the 80- by 125-foot building until temperatures get below 50 degrees and even then are kept at that level, not much warmer. The design of the Recycling Center, Reichelderfer said makes the building hard to heat as there are five dock doors which open and close often as trailers are loaded.
Care also has been taken to make routes more efficient, with trucks picking up recyclables to bring back to the center every time they go out to drop off recycling containers somewhere.
“I’m not sure what else we can do to keep costs down,” Reichelderfer said. “At this point, I just hope it stays as warm as it can for as long as it can.
“Fuel prices have gone down a little now, hopefully they’ll stay down a little and not go up to what it was before or more,” he said.
He said for the rest of the year the center most likely won’t use too much propane, as heat is not typically turned on until the end of November and tanks are already full.
While he thought he factored enough extra into this year’s fuel budget, Reichelderfer said he plans to factor even more in for 2009.
“The goal is always to get through without having to adjust anything,” Reichelderfer said, referring to the additional funds which had to be added to the already $28,000 supply budget, which in addition to fuel covers equipment, hardware, educational materials and brochures, wire for the baler, and plastic bags, among other items.
Commissioner John Bergman said several of the county’s departments are struggling with higher fuel costs.
Affected the most by fuel is the County Engineer’s Office, but heating costs are also high at the Auglaize County Law Enforcement Center, Auglaize Acres and the Auglaize County Administration Building, which are all heated by propane and natural gas.
Bergman said several budget adjustments have been made for departments and offices already this year and mileage reimbursement rates increased to 50 1/2 cents a gallon for county employees, such as probation officers, who are required to drive their own vehicles.
“We have no firm numbers yet for how much its affected the county this year,” Bergman said. “Obviously though, fuel affects everyone’s budgets. Fuel prices fluctuate daily. Hopefully, we’ll have a better handle on it next year.”
He said the best some department administrators and office holders will be able to do though is to take an average of the 12 months’ fuel costs and calculate a budget.
At this point in the year, department administrators and county office elected officials are closely examining their proposed budgets for next year and the county is evaluating natural gas carriers to determine who may have the best overall price for 2009.
“Next year will be the first full year the county will feel the full effects of increased energy prices,” Bergman said. “It’s not going to be easy. We’ll have to wait and see how that goes.” |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 September 2008 )
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