These two pictures were taken on the same day, 15 minutes apart.The top photo was taken in Mendon, the bottom one taken in Uxbridge.
Why the huge disparity in price? It has always been this way. Mendon gas prices are consistently 10-20% higher than the lower prices in the area. The argument has always been that Mendon has no self-service gas pumps. If that were true the price in Milford (also a full serve town) would be as high as Mendon but it is not.
This may not be a huge issue for you but there is another consideration. We are under the impression that all the gasoline used by town vehicles is purchased in Mendon. That is a lot of fuel when you consider police, fire and highway.
Questions: Does the town get a break on the price? If so how much? If not, why not? We will reserve judgment on the possibility of a sweet heart deal here but given the fact that the town’s bill for gasoline each year must be somewhere north of $25,000, by law it should be put out to bid. Anyone know if we bid gas out? Our guess is there are no bids, just a handshake and a wink.
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TRASH: On another local issue we are asking if anyone is having a problem with trash pick-up. We have gotten 3 emails in the last week complaining about trash pick-up or the lack of it. Is this a widespread problem?
18 comments:
I don't think it's a "sweetheart deal at all. It's hard to even imagine Dave Gaskill the elder doing anything sweetheartish! I have no doubt that the town buys its fuel there and pays the higher price because it supports a local business. They would probably get flak if they didn't.It is the same reason that I buy my gas there whenever possible. I usually do business in Mendon even if it cost more. The Gaskills have never returned the favor but I have hopes! I guess if the whole truth were to be told I also do it out of respect for Daves mother, Grace Hutchinson. She was my second grade teacher and I owe her a lot so if I pay her son a few extra bucks each week, week after week after week month after month after month, year aft........oh what the hell, I'd still do it. But thats just me.
Gary, two points here. First, anything over $10,000 requires a competitive bid.
Second, supporting local business (as you do) is up to the local populace, not the town government at taxpayer expense.
HG
The point is well taken, HG. I didn't say it was right, only that it is well intentioned.
Welcome back to the local front!
I think the $10,000 has been raised to $25,000 to comply with state law.This was voted at the TM last night.
It's always nice to giggle at a posting, Gary. Thanks.
point of fact: the town does bid diesel (for the trucks and ambulance) and heating fuel. Whether that's a good deal or not is questionable, as is any year long contract for something as volatile as fuel prices. Whether the lowest price vendor is a good deal, all by itself, is questionable. Sometimes, you just get what you pay for.
As far as why there is such a difference, that's a good question. Does it matter? Here's where the free market comes into play. There will always be a market for high priced items, no matter how silly most of think that is. If the people who charge that money can exist on it, so be it! Wasn't someone just writing about the little mom and pops going out of business and how tragic that was? It's the little mom and pops who have to charge those higher prices because of overhead, volume, etc etc, so you get one or t'other. The little guys just can't charge the same thing as the big guys.
LH
some companies offer gas at lower prices to bring traffic into their convenience stores.
LH, I think you miss the point. First, getting what you pay for it terms of gasoline is just that. There is no hidden value in fuel. Fuel is fuel. Therefore it would seem that the lower price would be best for the taxpayer.
Small stations may have to charge more but 30 cents a gallon is a little over the top. If you go to the sites that track gas prices in Massachusetts (http://www.massachusettsgasprices.com/) you will find that the local price in Mendon is at or near the highest in the state and some of the lowest prices are at Mom & Pop stores. As of today 11/01/06 the price at Gaskill’s Shell station ($1.36.9) would be the third highest price in Massachusetts.
The question here is do we hold our taxing authorities to a higher standard? Even the appearance of special handling by elected officials feeds the cynicism that undermines the process. Love them or hate them, local business has to be subjected to the same rules as everyone else. To do any less begins the descent into cronyism and corruption.
Dale Pleau
Aw Shucks! At any moment I expect to see Gary Smith in bib overalls and a straw hat. His folksy act clearly has the Mendon old timers fooled. He should be dressed as a city slicker 'cause underneath he is a shark.
please feel free to offer up any "shark"like action I have ever done. I have offered this forum before for you to do this and you were never heard from. I said it before and I will say it again. I have never done anything unethical or in the least bit wrong in all my years in Mendon. I love my town and wear it on my sleeve. I loved,respected and am grateful to Grace Hutchinson and meant what I said. I wrote a letter to The editor of MDN many years ago testifing to the same incuding other teachers that were a positive imact on my life. So have at it my friend, truth is on my side and is an absolute defence against such as you.
3 cheers for Gary!
Regarding the subject of trash pickup problems, i have NEVER had a problem with pickup. The BFI person who picks up at my house is very courteous. I commend all those employees for the job they do.
Regarding the trash, we constantly have issues, the trash gets picked up at the convenience of BFI. Oh well, at least it get picked up.
Regarding the gas prices and bids. no matter where or how much the increasing private use of town vehicles for non contracted town employees will cause and has caused an increase in the expenditures. But once again, Opie
Aunt bee and others stand silent. Afraid of what I do not know, I wonder if the people who think they have power realize that we the towns people are not blind. That pedestal they have put themselves up on is not appreciated. Currently, this month, I have seen a Mendon Police vehicle (on duty) at a Nipmuc girls field hockey game. Also, the brush truck (in disrepair) is constant use by someone or another!!?? Just a few examples, opened eyes will know that this is not gossip. Just another way of spending our money irresponsibly.
wheres Woodward and Brownstein when you need them! Do me a favor and write back when you have a real scandal. Something huge like using to many sheets of toilet paper.
The Police and Fire both have accounts at Xtra Mart and Shell. Both stations are utilized for gas, depending on who's open when the vehicles need a fill-up, which is usually at the end of a shift. So the probability is that two of three shifts fill at Xtra Mart, midnight and eight a.m. Wouldn't you hate to call for the police and have them run out of gas on the way to your house?
Wow, did I strike a cord?? It behooves me to understand why I should drop to such a level and respond. However, it just proves my point that not many people are looking outside the box. In a time when our budgets are under review, if in one area there are certain lack of responsiblities, combined with all the other areas with lack of responsibilities, that equals no approvals from the fincom and townspeople. Its not a matter of where we hold the contracts, but who uses them and how. Its not a matter of responding with an empty tank, but the response time itself.! And the ability to not take advantage of those who give! Its appears to be very easy to spend someone elses money. Those other people who watch there household budgets carefully and see the tax's constantly increasing to support our towns needs, would like to see some care as to how the money is spent.
It's "Chord" and "behooves" is used incorrectly. But your general point is well taken, taxes are often squandered. Mendon just seems to squander much less than others and for that, I give thanks.
Glad to see someone really is paying attention, you play the game well my friend, Happy Thanksgiving!!! Wishing you all a great day.
If the stations in Mendon actually charged a reasonable price for gas, I'd buy it there rather than drive by. Local business or not, my money is spent wisely and if I can save $7.50 on every 25 gallon fill-up....you can bet I will. They would more than make up in volume what they drop in price. I want to support local business....but in this case they don't make it sensible.
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