ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer’s Board of Education saw a stark difference in two bids collected this week for installing a new 10,000 gallon gas tank on Legion Road.

The tank will be an above-ground storage unit with dispensary installed for the school system’s storage and use at their Legion Road annex and will be split, according to the bids, as a 6,ooo/4,000 gallon tank that holds both diesel and gasoline. According to reports the tanks could split as 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 4,000 gallons of gasoline or the split could go to 8,000 gallons of diesel and 2,000 gallons of gas if the board wished.

The bids include the required equipment needed for the tanks and pumps. The bid totals came in at $230,371.43 for JF  Petroleum Group and $97,810.00 for McNally & Associates, INC. According to the bid paperwork, JF Petroleum is based out of Morrisville, North Carolina, and McNally & Associates is based out of Kennesaw, Georgia. Gilmer Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley said his intent on Thursday will be to recommend the $97 k bid for approval as the low bidder.

The large disparity in the bid was questioned at first. But it was not the only surprise in pricing that the board of education saw in relation to the gas tanks. Ridley also stated that he has already approved the removal of the tanks at the high school transportation department. Costing roughly $13,000, this did not require board approval. The board discussed the removal costs some expected it to be much higher. Dana Berry, Assistant Superintendent – Operations, stated that the company has been asked to confirm the bid several times. He also stated that the school system would make sure it was a fixed bid.

Berry said the school system has been in contact and following EPA guidelines for tank removal, he noted that filling the tanks with sand was another option, but with the low bid, the board did not speak further on this option.