Oil and grease bid call ahead

Whitman County commissioners Monday approved Public Works to issue a call for bids for the county's oil and grease contract.

Public Works Director Mark Storey informed them that Connell Oil, the existing supplier, will not extend its contract another year due to rising costs.

Storey called Connell after the first of year to ask its intentions.

“In today's world, we can still use the phone,” he said.

In the current contract, if both parties agree, they can extend it a year at a time.

The contract allows for a one to two percent increase in price.

With higher costs, however, the old contract was deemed to be unrealistic.

Connell Oil is expected to bid in the new process at a higher rate.

The oil and grease supplies are used on all county vehicles as overseen by the Public Works department.