Sanders offers proposals

Jay County Chamber of Commerce executive director Dean Sanders has submitted policy proposals for consideration that could allow the county to provide preference to local businesses when it comes to awarding contracts.
Sanders presented examples of “local preference” policies and a “buy local program” during a presentation Monday to Jay County Commissioners that stressed the importance of buying local.
The proposed policies, which have been enacted in cities in Michigan and Iowa, allow the municipalities to award contracts to local vendors even if they may not have the lowest bid.
For example, Sanders discussed a “buy local program” program in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Within the program, preference is given to local companies if their bid or quote exceeds the acceptable low bid by no more than 10 percent for bids less than $25,000, 5 percent for bids from $25,000 to $200,000 and 1 percent for bids of $200,000 or more.
“I think there are some good opportunities for us to look at doing that,” Sanders said.
“You know, obviously, we need to be good stewards of the county’s money and we do a good job of that, but also you take a look at what the benefit can be also … if we do give preference to our local businesses throughout Jay County,” Sanders added.
During his presentation, Sanders listed off more than a dozen benefits of buying local, which included creating and sustaining jobs, boosting the local economy and promoting entrepreneurship and new businesses.
Sanders also provided examples of local preference policies from a number of Michigan municipalities. Some use a similar percentage-based procedure as the Cedar Rapid’s program.
One of the examples, the City of Sterling Heights, Michigan, only uses local preference when there is a tie between vendors. Others allow local companies to match the low bid if they fall within a specific percentage difference. The City of Lansing exempts contracts greater than $500,000 from its ordinance, according to documents Sanders provided Monday.
County attorney Bill Hinkle asked Sanders if he knew of any Indiana taxing units or municipalities that have enacted such ordinances.
Sanders said he wasn’t aware of any and would do more research.
Commissioner Doug Inman said the commissioners stress the concept of using local companies for county purchases.
“We do believe this,” Inman said.
Inman suggested Sanders come back early in January and talk to commissioners about the proposals.
In other business, commissioners Faron Parr, Zimmerman and Inman:
•Approved Jay Superior Court Judge Max Ludy to be the purchasing agent for three copiers that will be used for the court to get ready for electronic filing of records. They will cost $880 each.
•Heard from county engineer Dan Watson that Milestone Contractors would prefer to pave the parking lot and driveway at the county retirement center in the spring of 2017 as opposed to before the end of 2016. Watson said he believed that would be a wise choice and said he doesn’t think the company would have enough warm days to complete the work before then.