Townships invited into buying plan

WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners are inviting townships to participate in a group buying plan officials say saved the county $300,000 in 2001.
Last year, the county solicited formal bids for the first time from vendors who provide office, janitorial and other supplies to 44 county departments.
Bidding out the contracts realized a savings of about 30 percent, said Tony Carson, the new purchasing department director.
Townships are now being invited to sign up to buy supplies through the county and get the same rates. The program will be explained at a meeting in the commissioners' chambers next Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
The offer will eventually be extended to cities and school districts, he said. Some school districts already participate in cooperative buying programs.
By expanding the number of participants, Carson said the county may be able to get a better deal the next time it puts the contracts out to bid.