Bleyhl fuel contract decision tabled

SUNNYSIDE (2-9-98)--The Sunnyside City Council has tabled a decision to extend a fuel-purchase agreement with Bleyhl Farm Services.

During the workshop meeting, a couple groans went up from staff at the thought of going with another vendor.

City Finance Director Bud Schatz told the council he and staffer Earline Bassett worked very hard setting up a computerized card system to track purchases by 100 city staffers who use city vehicles.

Shatz indicated their work paid off in a smoothly operating system with Bleyhl. That work might have to be done over if a new vendor comes on board.

"Every city employee has to be tracked, so we know they're not putting the gas in their own car," Schatz said.

He said the current system accomplishes that. The staff person, vehicle number and mileage is now coded with the amount for each gas purchase.

Schatz also didn't like the idea of an annual bidding process.</B><P>"We can extend (the Bleyhl) bid. We can also take four or five weeks every year re-doing the bidding process," he said.

Public Works Director Gary Potter told the Council that Bleyhl has pumps on both sides of town. City workers don't have to drive clear across Sunnyside with a fuel-guzzling vehicle, then drive back after refueling.

"Location of the pumps is a big issue," Potter said.

In other business, the Council:

• Approved liquor license applications for TM Market, 6th and Yakima Valley Hwy., and for a Knights of Columbus special event at St. Joseph School.
• Left it to Councilmen Don Vlieger and Mike Farmer to come up with the place and hours of an upcoming Council retreat.
• Set the next Council meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 17, rather than Feb. 16, Presidents' Day.
• Agreed to give Mark Kunkler, City Attorney and Interim City Manager, the same salary as his predecessor, retroactive to Jan. 1. Kunkler said he's been working 10 to 11-hour days wearing both attorney and manager hats. The council agreed Kunkler has been doing an "excellent job".