No choice but to pass gas costs onto customers

Area businesses are looking for some help in paying their fuel bills.

If you use a plumber, buy flowers or rent a limousine, you may be asked to pitch in.

EMS Plumbing and Heating of Youngstown had been absorbing the higher costs, but a few weeks ago company officials decided part of the cost had to be passed on.

For the first time, the company included travel time to a call in the service time that’s billed to customers.

“It’s gotten to the point where you have to do something,” said Brenda Snitzer, EMS office manager.

Gasoline has topped $3 a gallon at area stations this week. EMS has two trucks and two vans on the road, which each drive between 30 and 100 miles a day.

“The fuel bills for the vehicles are astronomical,” she said.

For more, see Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com