A Change in Blue Ridge’s Propane Provider and Rate

BLUE RIDGE, Ga.—Oct. 9 Blue Ridge City Council came together Tuesday evening to vote on the approval of a new bid for propane gas.

During last month’s meeting, council members Nathan Fitz and Ken Gaddis questioned the propane bid from Appalachian Propane. The council chose to open the bid and read a price of $1.44 per gallon.

At that time, discussion between the council members and Mayor Donna Whitener, led to Council Member Fitz making the motion that they ‘table’ the propane bid for the next meeting.

After putting out another bid for propane rates, the city of Blue Ridge received one more bid from Ford Mountain Propane for a rate of $1.09 per gallon.

Council member Gaddis commented, “This is the gas company that the school board uses. They’ve used [them] over the last 3 years.”

Mayor Whitener responded, “And I did call Appalachian Propane because I was asked to do that to see if they could match [the price] and because Japan is getting all the excess gas—they think they’re even going to have a shortage of gas—they couldn’t match the price. I just hope the other company makes sure they have enough gas for us, if they reserve enough.”

Council member Robbie Cornelius responds, “[They] never got to my house to install it…in over 9 or 10 months. I called 7 or 8 times and so I’m not really happy with them.”

Mayor Whitener, “Do I have a motion?”

Council member Cornelius, “And the school board uses this propane now?”

Mayor Whitener responded, “That’s what Ken said.”

Council member Fitz asked, “So, the school board uses them and everything’s fine?”

Council member Gaddis responded, “Yes. They [the school board] just renewed their contract with them [Ford Mountain Propane].”

Council member Gaddis made the motion that the board accept Ford Mountain’s bid and council member Fitz seconded the motion.