Franchisee Gail Adler and her son-in-law, Mike Doyle, have started a petition drive to gather signatures to "save the pumps" at the store, hoping the petitions will give them some leverage in an appeal to management.
"I'm willing to travel to Illinois [7-Eleven division headquarters] to pitch our [image-nocss] case," Doyle said.Margaret Chabris, spokesperson for Dallas-based 7-Eleven, told CSP Daily News, "7-Eleven Inc. is responsible for all facets of the gasoline operation at the Walbridge, Ohio, store, including its installation, maintenance and any upgrades. The initial investment to provide gasoline service is typically $1 million. Unfortunately, gasoline sales at this store have been unprofitable, even before considering the $400,000 cost to upgrade these gasoline tanks. After weighing the options for this location, we made a financially responsible decision to discontinue the gasoline operation."In a letter to the Wood County commissioners, Adler and Doyle said monthly gasoline sales at the store are usually around 40,000 gallons.
Local government, businesses and residents rely on the service, Doyle said.
"It is our contention that not only will this impact the store, but the local community...Village of Walbridge operations [police, maintenance vehicles], CSX railroad, Northwood Door and Professional Transportation Inc," the letter said. "Customers have supported the store for 32 years. Now, 7-Eleven corporate is going to turn a blind eye to the community's needs."
The store registered sales of $1.4 million in 2008, according to Doyle, who told the newspaper that the corporation has had a policy of having gasoline sales equal at least 24% of gross sales at a store or a profit of at least 1.5 cents per gallon.
The c-store is the only location in the village limits selling gasoline, said the report.
Doyle and Adler contended they did not have any input into the decision and were told it was based on the corporation's return on investment, not on environmental or related issues. The company told them that it estimates it would cost about $400,000 to replace the tanks, he added.
Their letter includes a request for the commissioners to seek input from the Wood County Economic Development Commission to determine if funding is available for upgrading the fuel tanks, the report said.
Ohio levies a .28-cent motor fuel tax on every gallon sold, the paper said. Based on the store's monthly sales of 40,000 gallons, the tax would generate $11,200, or $134,400 a year.
Motor fuel taxes collected by the state are distributed among state and local governmental units according to statutory formula. In 2008, Walbridge received $120,503 in fuel taxes, according to the report, citing the Ohio Department of Taxation. A federal gasoline tax is also levied on sales at the pump.
According to the Ohio Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations (BUSTR), there are three tanks at the site; two have a capacity of 10,000 gallons and one has a 6,000-gallon capacity. BUSTR records show it investigated what it calls a suspected release at the site in June 2000, but it was determined there was not an actual release.
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