Plymouth Board of Public Works & Safety reviews fuel bids, denies DAV signage request

Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 1:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

Plymouth Street Superintendent Jim Marquardt presented fuel bids from two companies during this week's Board of Public Works and Safety meeting.

Al Warren Oil Company of Bensenville, Illinois, submitted a bid for the first time. The company's pre-tax prices were $2.2775 per gallon for 87 octane E-10 unleaded gasoline and $2.9560 for premium ultralow sulfur diesel. Keystone Cooperative submitted the second bid with pre-tax prices of $2.4730 per gallon for gasoline and $3.0123 for diesel. Prices are for delivered fuel.

When Board member Don Ecker asked about the city's fuel usage, Marquardt said the bid specifications call for approximately 22,500 gallons of diesel and 40,500 gallons of gasoline.

The board took the bids under consideration for review. Marquardt noted that fuel rates for 2026 will be set based on market prices on the day the city makes its final decision.

DAV Signage Request Denied

The Board of Public Works and Safety also addressed a previously tabled request from Mr. Buchtel of Plymouth DAV Chapter 42. The organization had requested adding their name to four city wayfinding signs—two on North Michigan Street and two on Oak Drive.

North American Signs, which created the city's wayfinding signs several years ago, quoted $654 per sign for the modifications, totaling $2,616. Buchtel told Marquardt the DAV lacks funds for such an expense.

Marquardt explained that the DAV operates out of the Life Enrichment Center on Harrison Street, which is already listed on the wayfinding signs.

Board member Duane Culp expressed support for the organization, saying, "I think this organization is superb, and we have spent money on other things. For $2,000, maybe we could get a design specific to add their name to the sign instead."

However, Councilman Dave Morrow suggested the DAV promote itself as being located at the Life Enrichment Center rather than having taxpayers fund new signage specifically for the organization.

Councilman Don Ecker moved to deny the request, with Morrow providing the second. The motion passed 4-1 on a roll call vote, with Culp casting the only vote in favor of approval.