Barbour May Join Purchasing Program
By BEN SIMMONS, Staff WriterBarbour County could soon be getting some money back on all expenses paid, as commissioners voted Monday to approve entering into an agreement with the State Auditor's office purchasing card program. By using the card, the county will be entitled to 1 percent back on approved expenditures.
Catherine Fazzini and Jerry Isaacs, representatives from the State Auditor's office, addressed the commission and explained how the card works. Fazzini said the county could issue Visa cards to any employee who would need one and that limits could be set to any specification. She said merchant codes could also be entered so employees could only use the card at authorized vendors. The account would be integrated with the county's current accounting system and departmental spending could be easily tracked.
Isaacs told the commission the state has been using the system for 14 years. He said the county would save money by not having to write checks and would also be entitled to a 1 percent rebate on purchases including contractual work.
Commissioners asked if they could pay regional jail fees by using the card. Fazzini said the jail's are not set up to accept the payments yet, but would be in the very near future.
"The program will enable us to issue cards to different people in different departments," Barbour County Commission President Tim McDaniel said. "We can put spending limits on cards to send with people on trips. Also, a nice thing is that there is a 1 percent rebate on the money spent. If the regional jail bill is able to be paid that way, which it is not at the present time, (and) if we can get reimbursed 1 percent on some of our larger payments each month, it would help out. That money would go back into the general fund."
Commissioners unanimously voted to enter into the agreement contingent upon the contract being reviewed by Barbour County Prosecuting Attorney E. Lynn Phillips.
Also during the meeting, members of Animal Friends of Barbour County asked commissioners to set up a meeting to discuss providing financial support to the organization. They also presented commissioners with T-shirts from a recent fundraiser.
AFOBC representative Dorothy Hayhurst updated commission on the group's recent endeavors. She said the organization has purchased property on Valley Bend Road to begin construction of a cat shelter. She said AFOBC has currently stopped accepting cats.
"The cat crisis is getting worse all the time," Hayhurst said.
Carol Talbott, a member of AFOBC, told the commission the organization needs funding to help pay for transporting dogs to Baltimore, Md. She said the organization takes approximately 14 dogs twice a month to Baltimore, but gets no financial support and needs funds to continue.
In other commission news:
- Commissioners voted to sign a proclamation declaring October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
- Commissioners approved Dr. Michael Clyburn to replace Dr. Stephen Markwood on the Barbour County Development Authority and appoint Geneva Mayle to the Health Department.
- Commissioners approved to draft a letter recommending Debbie Schoonover be named to the North Central Community Action Board.
- Commissioners approved to change the voting precinct from Kasson School to Nestorville Community Building and White Oak to Nestorville Community Building.
The next Barbour County Commission meeting will be at 3 p.m. Nov. 7 in the commission chambers.
