By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



As gas prices continue to rise nationally, residents and businesses in north Jefferson County are feeling pain at the pump.

According to the Web site gasbuddy.com, the average price for gasoline in Alabama on Friday was $3.84 a gallon. For Birmingham, the average price was $3.78.

The most expensive gas in the Birmingham metro area could be found at a BP station in Vestavia Hills for $3.89 per gallon, while drivers could pay $3.65 a gallon at the RaceWay in Fultondale.

The continual price spike means some residents have had to stay off the road, while businesses have had to increase prices on merchandise and delivery charges.

Sarah Wood, 22, of Gardendale, said she had planned to go visit friends in Tuscaloosa over the Memorial Day weekend, but decided to stay in town. She said she also worried about gas prices going up again before the end of summer.

“I have a bunch of friends down there and I just wanted to get out of Gardendale,” Wood said. “I just don’t need to be spending that much on gas to go there, unless I bum it from my parents.”

Local businesses that rely on delivery or home service have felt the sting more than some residents.

Rex Latta with Latta Plumbing said the gas prices are getting out of hand, but he’s trying not to pass the effects onto the customers.

“Being in a recession, you can’t increase the prices; prices decrease,” Latta said. “It’s just something a business has to absorb.”

Latta plumbing runs about 15 to 20 trucks, eight of which are diesel. “No doubt we’re going to have to get some kind of break, or it’s going to break us,” he said.

Catherine Creel of Charlsie’s Catering and Cakes said not only has she had to go up on delivery charges, but she’s had to increase the cost of her food because of the rising cost of eggs and cooking oil.

“You’re having to pay more for what you get, so you have to charge more to make up for it,” Creel said. “Things are going to get better. … I know they are.”

Creel said her increases amount to about 20 percent on deliveries and about 15 percent on food, like wedding cakes. The business delivers locally, but drives as far as Jasper to deliver some cakes.

Other delivery-based businesses like florists have also taken a hit. Rosilyn Wilson of Wilson’s Florist and Wedding Chapel said it was costing as much as $100 to fill up delivery vans. She said soaring gas prices means the customers are also not spending as much.

Additionally, she said they are also having to pay more for flowers and other items like helium, forcing them to increase their delivery prices by 10 to 15 percent.

“We hate to, but there’s only so much you can do if you want to stay in business,” Wilson said. “We’ll never see $2 [gas] again.”

A Gardendale gas station attendant, Geraldine Thomas, said drivers have been more than happy to voice their concerns over gas prices.

Thomas, who works at the Gardendale Chevron Food Mart at 1130 Decatur Hwy., said the station’s owner determines the price of gas.

“We just get an earful, and I don’t blame them,” said Thomas of her customers. “We have to fill up out there, too.”