News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
With record fuel sales continuing, the time is now to buy a new fuel truck for the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport.
That was the consensus of board members Tuesday night who approved the $188,300 purchase.
Airport Manager Dean Selby said the current truck continues to develop problems and he worried about missing out on a fuel sale while it was out of commission. Selby had asked the board last month to price a new chassis to use with the existing pump equipment. Selby said that price came out to $141,740.
“We would have to bring the truck up to current standards,” Selby said.
Funds from the airport’s reserve fund will be used to pay for the truck. Selby said he has been told it will be a 12-15 week delivery time.
“I’m already worried about that turnaround,” Board Chairman Randy Porter said.
“I don’t think we can wait,” Board Member Jeff Young said.
Young said one customer who could not be served due to an out-of-service truck could spread that story to other flyers. That, Young said, could destroy the positive momentum the airport has developed as a more efficient destination than Nashville’s busy airports.
Selby told board members Tuesday that fuel sales in January more than doubled from the 2020 number to some 16,848 gallons.
“Fuel is the single largest contributor to the airport’s finances,” Selby said.
Based on current projections, the profit on one year of fuel sales will pay for the truck, according to Selby.
Selby said he considered a lease option, but found the board would pay for the truck roughly 1.5 times going that route. The current truck, purchased used ten years ago, will be used as a backup.
