For 1st time, board OKs bottled water pact

The new water cooler contract will save $900 over last year, officials say.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICTOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Providing bottled water for Trumbull County employees to drink on the job will cost taxpayers about $23,000 next year, under a contract approved by commissioners.
On Wednesday, the county commissioners awarded a contract to Pine Hollow of Warren to rent and stock 50 water coolers in the administrative building, Wean building, courthouse, child support enforcement agency and 11 other county buildings.
This is the first time the contract for water coolers has been bid, although the amount of money spent annually on bottled water rose past the $15,000 mark five years ago. That's the point at which state law requires counties to either solicit competitive bids or use the state purchasing program.
There are also pop machines, coffee makers and water fountains available to employees in most county offices.
Also bidding
Howland Springs Water Co. of Warren also bid on the water cooler contract. Since 1997, the two companies shared the business of selling water to the county, along with a third company, also named Pine Hollow, but based in Struthers.
Anthony Carson Jr., the county's director of purchasing, did not return telephone calls inquiring about the contract. The commissioners' agenda states that the new contract represents a savings of $900 over last year's pricing.
Last year, Trumbull County spent $23,817 on coolers and bottled water for employees.
Commissioners also awarded contracts to sell office supplies and copy paper to county offices. Cross Office Supplies of Warren was the lowest bidder for the office supply contract.
"We are very happy the local company was able to sharpen their pencils and give us a low price," said Joseph J. Angelo Jr., a county commissioner.
Five companies submitted bids for the contract. When the contract was bid for the first time last year, Carson said it resulted in a savings of $300,000 to the county.
Who won bid
A contract to provide the county with copy paper for six months was awarded to Independence Business Supply of Cleveland.
Carson told commissioners that 14 townships and two municipalities had signed on to participate in the office supply contract awarded by Trumbull County. Trustees in several townships told The Vindicator that they were opting out of the program until local and state investigations of county purchasing practices are complete.
Local prosecutors and agents of the Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation are looking into expenditures on janitorial supplies.