FARMINGTON – The county commission Tuesday agreed to pay for the replacement of gas pump that was destroyed earlier this month in a mishap.

Commissioner Gary McGrane initially wanted a written estimate detailing the cost and what needed to be done to replace the pump. But after a visit to the fueling station at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department later Tuesday morning, McGrane gave the panel’s approval to get it replaced after commissioners left it in his hands.

The pump is near the side entry to the jail and was used by county deputies, jail personnel and the county Emergency Management Agency.

A deputy was filling a cruiser Friday, Aug. 3, and talking to his sergeant when a lightning storm struck and they decided to move the conversation inside. The deputy accidentally drove the cruiser away from the pump with the nozzle still attached to the cruiser, pulling the pump off the concrete blocks it was balanced on. Electrical wires were pulled away and caught fire.

The nozzle also came back and broke the cruiser’s rear window.

Sgt. Steven Lowell put the fire out with a fire extinguisher that he had in his county vehicle.

In the wake of the accident, Sheriff Dennis Pike said he initiated a temporary solution with the town of Farmington that has county Emergency Management Director Tim Hardy and jail personnel using Farmington’s filling station under a lock-key system, with the county reimbursing for the fuel used.

Deputies are using county credit cards to pay full price for gas at service stations.

Pike, who is also a Farmington selectman, explained the accident to commissioners and told them it might be a good time to consider buying bulk fuel to save money.

Pike said he received a rough estimate to replace the pump of between $3,500 and $4,000, but that amount could change depending on any damage to underground wiring.

Chief Deputy Ray Meldrum repeatedly recommended commissioners approve replacing the pump to get it up and running since insurance would cover costs except for the $1,000 deductible.

Meldrum also voiced concern about the county offering to do bulk buying with one town and others possibly wanting the same opportunity. He also wondered how it would work if one town or the county had to pick up the cost of the bulk fuel when it was dropped off and collect money from other entities later.

McGrane said commissioners need facts and figures before they decide to replace the pump.

“I don’t like giving a blank check,” McGrane said, and suggested bids be solicited from other companies.

Both Commissioner Fred Hardy and county Treasurer Karen Robinson backed Meldrum and Pike’s request to replace the pump immediately with insurance money.

C.N. Brown has been the county’s gas supplier for several years. Its representatives looked at the fuel station to see what needed to be done before hauling off the ruined pump, Pike said, and recommended the mechanical pump be anchored to a more stable base.

McGrane said he needed more detail on what it would cost the county.

Pike said that was the best he could do with an estimate and turned over getting another estimate to McGrane.

Hardy, of New Sharon, agreed to explore buying gas with Farmington.