Lawsuit resolved, school bus contracts ready for next year
Anderson County Commissioner Jerry White talks to Law Director Jay Yeager during a break in the June 19 commission meeting. (photo:Ben Pounds )
In interviews, Anderson County Finance Director Robert Holbrook and Director of Schools Tim Parrott said the contracts are now all in place for the 2023-24 school year beginning after summer break.
The lawsuit’s resolution, unanimously approved by Anderson County Commission, was on the agenda for the June 19 commission meeting.
Andersonville Bus Lines Inc., Longmire Bus Lines Inc. and Parker Transport Inc. sued Anderson County and Anderson County Board of Education.
The companies claimed their contracts entitled them to an extension for the coming school year. The county originally opposed the extension and fought the lawsuit in court. However, all parties agreed to the extension in the settlement. The agreement also changes how the county compensates the companies for diesel costs.
Katherine Ajmeri, county deputy purchasing agent, said this agreement was in the county’s favor regarding diesel compensation. The county will pay five cents per mile for every 15-cent rise in the price of diesel fuel above a $2.50 baseline.
“It’s no loss of money to the county,” county Law Director Jay Yeager said at the June 19 meeting.
The commission approved the settlement unanimously. Seventh District Commissioner Steven Verran made the motion, and Sixth District Commissioner Anthony Allen seconded.
“We’ll go back and rebid these next year,” Yeager said at the meeting, regarding the plaintiffs’ contracts.
The county gave the other routes to contractors based on competitive bids.
One six-year agreement for six bus lines went to Claxton Bus Lines, while two other six-year agreements for 13 lines total went to William Scotty Phillips.
Based on information from Ajmeri, Claxton bus lines’ contract is $466,236 for all its routes combined.
William Scotty Phillips’ contracts have a total route price of $950,082.18.