Though still in the planning stages, the Sedona-Oak Creek School District, the city of Sedona, and the Sedona Fire District are looking at ways to pool their resources when it comes to saving on fuel costs.

The three entities may join forces in a fueling station that would offer diesel and unleaded fuel, which could be used by vehicles with all three agencies. A site for the fueling station has not been chosen yet, but officials with all three groups have expressed interest in the idea, particularly when it comes to possible cost savings. SOCSD Interim Superintendent Nancy Alexander said Governing Board members unanimously passed a motion to contribute to the partnership in an amount not to exceed $100,000 during their Monday, May 2, meeting.

“They made a motion that passed unanimously to work in collaboration with the fire [district] and the city of Sedona for a fueling station,” Alexander said. “We were the first ones. It’s my understanding this will be on the fire board’s agenda and then the city’s agenda in May.”

With a number in place, Alexander said school staff will begin to move further along on the project.

“We know fuel costs are just going to escalate,” Alexander said.

The city has a tentative financial number budgeted for the partnership should it materialize, said Andi Welsh, city community services director.

“We could buy the fuel in bulk, which would lower the cost for the gas so there would be savings for all three partner agencies,” Welsh said. “There have been several discussions about where the site would be, but a specific site has not been located or decided upon.”

At a recent SFD meeting April 27, board members unofficially agreed on investigating the joint partnership further. SFD Governing Board Chairman Dave Blauert said the plan is in its “early stages.”

“They’re asking for participation from the SFD,” Blauert said.

SFD Fire Chief Nazih Hazime said they are talking to school officials on the proposed project and will consider any project to help SFD realize cost savings.

“Right now we currently have sites for fueling our apparatus at two locations. The benefit that we may be able to get out of this whole project is the volume of fuel that’s going to be purchased,” Hazime said.

He said using SFD facilities would not be an option for the school district.

“It’s just not practical to bring in all the school buses and city vehicles at our fire stations. We went to the sites and looked at it, and it’s just not doable,” Hazime said.