Letter to the editor: Thinking ahead on diesel supply, costs and savings for county, city

This letter addresses my beloved Maury County, the City of Columbia, County Mayor, Columbia City Mayor, City Manager, County Commissioners, and Columbia City Councilmen.

I write to you today to request a strategy for Maury County and the City of Columbia. For weeks now, the world has been dealing with the declining supplies of diesel fuel.

Due to the aftermath of pandemic supply chains and sanctions against Russia for their Ukrainian invasion, prices of diesel have been quickly rising as supplies dwindle. Reuters reports that our strategic inventories are the lowest for the first time since 2008.

The world is bracing for diesel shortages to expand.

In addition to the embargo of fuel, we are also dealing with a curtailed supply of DEF that all diesel trucks must have as an additive for their engines to run. Any diesel truck since 2010 cannot run without DEF. This additive is also in short supply as it comes from Russia. We are just now beginning to see how these embargoes will affect truck deliveries and food supplies.

As much of our county and city equipment, ie; fire and garbage trucks, run on diesel, I believe that we need to have a contingency plan in place if supplies dwindle even further. What is the level of our reserves? Have we had to tap into those yet? This contingency plan should be double of what we currently have in store, as this shortage does not have an end in site. How much do we have on hand....how much will be needed for an estimated time frame and is there a way to store more? Is it time for us to adjust the runs or adjust idle time of equipment?

In addition to the diesel fuel cost and shortage, I am imploring, especially the city, to postpone road resurfacing. It was announced earlier in the year that we have double the amount of money for paving in this calendar year.

For every dollar fuel rises, asphalt goes up .70 cents. So although we will have double to spend, we, at the current fuel prices, will pave the same amount of surface or less.

It is, in my opinion, time to wait for fuel prices to recede before resurfacing. Columbians would appreciate the proactive measures and will understand the waiting.

Sincerely Yours,

Debbie Matthews

Columbia resident