The answer to a few bookkeeping issues for the City of Dunlap concerning gas and diesel purchases may be cleared up with a new system and supplier, approved during the City Commission’s meeting held Thursday, July 1.

The new supplier, FuelMan, supplied a bid which was a little more expensive than the other bidding company, Johnson Oil, but offered an extra service.

City Recorder Norman Hatfield explained, FeulMan will actually be keeping digital records of all transactions, along with mileage for each vehicle. This should clear up some of the guess-work tied to continued receipts brought in by employees.

He said, sometimes, with receipts, a few may be lost before they are recorded, and the cost spills over to the next month.

City Hall Office Administrator Annette Brown noted, counting up receipts can take almost half a day’s work time or more.

Another change for fueling will be the need to gas-up at different stores connected through FuelMan, rather than having a private gasoline pump on premises at the maintenance building. But, with several stores on FuelMan’s list of options, gas and diesel fuel will be available 24-hours a day, noted Hatfield.

“From the fire department’s perspective, that is a high priority. We have to be able to fuel up and go when needed,” he said.

Getting gas at local stores may clear up another problem the city faced with the private pump – thieves. Hatfield said, holes have been cut out of the fencing at the maintenance department and excess gasoline usage has been found, leading officials to believe gas is being stolen.

Johnson Oil was the low bid, coming in at 7.4-cents above cost per gallon for gasoline and 8.4-cents above cost per gallon for diesel. FuelMan’s bid came in a little higher, at 10.9-cents above cost per gallon of gas, and 13.9-cents above for diesel.

“The record keeping alone would be worth a lot to us,” expressed Hatfield.

The motion to accept FuelMan was approved by all but Commissioner Jeff Johnson, who abstained from voting.

In other business, a public hearing was held prior to the regularly scheduled meeting to answer any questions concerning the approval of a new ordinance for bed and breakfast establishments.

The only question came from local resident Carol Gaddy, who wanted to know if the opening of such establishments would cause the area to be re-zoned for commercial use only.

Mayor Dwain Land said, the ordinance allows such an establishment to be started in the residential zone without the need to re-zone, following the regulations and guidelines set forth in the ordinance in question.

During the meeting, the final reading of the ordinance was passed unanimously.

Carolyn Cates, Gordy Hickey, Rachel Hixson, Cindy Garner, Sammye Finley, Dan Barker and Clayton Smith were all appointed to the Harris Park Board during the meeting.

Lieutenant Coy Swanger reported, the Dunlap Police Department answered 351 calls for service in the month of June, which resulted in 134 arrests and citations.

With former Chief Ricky Smith’s recent retirement, the city commission decided to make Assistant Fire Chief Norman Hatfield the new leader of the local volunteer department. Gene Barker was appointed as deputy chief.

Newly appointed Chief Hatfield reported, his department answered ten alarms in June, consisting of one structure fire, one brush fire, one motor vehicle accident, one vehicle fire, three mutual-aid calls and three other unclassified calls.

The extension of a water and sewer line was approved at the meeting. The extension will be 2,000 feet, moving south from Stacy’s Salt Lick Roadhouse on State Highway 8.

Hatfield noted, a finalized budget is well on its way toward approval and in the next few weeks, a proposal will be ready for the commission. Mayor Land pointed out, there will be no tax increases.