DPW Director Randy Brown says that construction on the new fuel station should start by this upcoming summer. (WNG File Photo)
SOUTHWICK – For the past few years, the Southwick Department of Public Works has been seeking a new fuel station for the town. At Tuesday night’s Select Board meeting, that hope got another step closer.
A motion was made by the Select Board to award a bid to a contractor so the process on building the new fuel station can start. Lemelin Environmental Services out of Chicopee was awarded the bid at an asking price of $143,900. According to DPW Director Randy Brown, there is also $28,000 in engineering fees for the town to pay. With the town having a total budget of $216,000 in appropriated funds for this project, Brown says that there is about $48,000 that will stay in the budget account for the future.
The DPW constantly has a need for the fuel station so it will be located at the DPW headquarters. Previously, the fuel station was behind the police and fire departments.
“It makes sense to relocate those to the garage,” said Brown.
For the fuel station, there will be two, 2,000 gallon tanks. One tank will be gas and the other will be diesel. Another addition to the fuel station will be the fact that the tanks will be above ground whereas the current fuel station was below ground.
Brown says that stations below ground have stricter regulations with the state, including more inspections. By having an above-the-ground fuel station they will have less regulation to deal with while still meeting the requirements with the state.
Lemelin Environmental Services will most likely begin construction this summer.
