By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

Central purchasing is supposed to save Columbus County money.

Some commissioners have doubts that department heads are fully utilizing the central buying component of the county to do that.

Using the central buying power of the purchasing department could save taxpayers as much as 70 to 80 percent on goods, Purchasing Director Stuart Carroll told the board at a recent department update.

“Are you ordering for each department now?” Commissioner Ricky Bullard asked Carroll.

“Office supplies only, really,” Carroll explained.

He pointed out he had had discussions with different department heads and, for instance, one department wanted a particular type of ink pen.

“I have too many pens over there for people to want a certain type of pen,” Carroll explained.

“I’d like to see an inventory of what you have,” Commissioner Ronald Gore told Carroll.

Bullard questioned why purchasing was not handling all of the ordering. “Why don’t we do 100 percent?” Bullard wanted to know.

“I’m not here to step on toes or put myself on a pedestal,” Carroll said, pointing out he did not see that as a part of his job. “What I am is a service to the county (department heads).”

“I would encourage all department heads to work with the purchasing department,” Chairman James Prevatte said.

“Report back to us at the end of February about ordering and if departments aren’t going through you, maybe we need to do something,” Bullard said.

“We’re shooting the messenger,” Commissioner Amon McKenzie said. “We need to go through the manager to do that.”

“I know they (department heads) know I am going through and looking,” Carroll said, but pointed out he was no different from any department head and that authority would best remain with the manager.

“Haven’t I given you the authority to reject purchases?” interim County Manager Leo Hunt asked Carroll.

“Yes,” Carroll replied and added that an upgraded computer-based requisition system was working well.

He explained departments basically could go online to send a requisition with the vendor and description.

“If it’s an item I feel sure I can get cheaper,” Carroll said, he contacts the department head.

“There is no excuse for department heads not going through you (purchasing), isn’t that right, Mr. Hunt?” Commissioner Bill Memory told Carroll.

“I have instructed department heads that if it comes to us after the fact and we can get it cheaper, they have bought it,” Hunt declared.

‘We don’t need to be buying $3.50 pens when a 69-cent pen will do the job,” Gore insisted.

Memory questioned if county departments were using the same type of printing equipment to cut down on the cost of replacement ink cartridges.

Carroll explained that copiers were being linked to multiple computers in offices to cut down on printing costs.

Memory also asked about the savings with fuel cards and cell phone bills.

Carroll said at one time there were problems with some employees using cell phones for web access at additional fees to the county but that had virtually ceased and most bills now remained at the $39 flat fee.

Commissioner Sammie Jacobs pointed out Social Services is now using the county’s central auto fleet to save money.

Commissioners congratulated Carroll on his recent completion of coursework that certifies him as a purchasing agent.

Prevatte pointed out it was not something the county required but something Carroll did on his own initiative and that it would be beneficial to the county.