In a regularly-scheduled meeting on Monday, March 8, Ellis County Commissioners’ unanimously declared this month to be March for Meals Awareness Month in Ellis County.

“Meals on Wheels is an incredibly valuable organization that serves our community well,” said County Judge Carol Bush. “We are proud to be able to partner with them and support them in this effort.”

Bush read a proclamation recognizing the organization’s contributions to the community, including serving over 600,000 meals to homebound residents – 150,000 annually – through the efforts of over 650 volunteers.

“We are going to end the month with a fund raiser, and I would like to invite all of you to ‘Focus on the 40’s’,” said Meals on Wheels Board President Charlie Morton. “And thanks again for everything.”

All members of the Ellis County Commissioners’ Court are scheduled to deliver meals during March for Meals Awareness Month.

Commissioners spent some time discussing the possibilities for consolidation of road materials in order to pursue additional quantity discounts, instructing the Purchasing Agent regarding specific preferences and reasons for those preferences.

“Just to bring this topic back up again, to inform the Court, the biggest money saver on road materials is going to be quantity discounts granted by the supplier,” said Purchasing Agent Richard Denniston. “There are a lot of things to work through, but the more you consolidate, the more concessions we will get.”

“I don’t mind changing if we can get a good price,” said Commissioner Ron Brown, pct. 4. “I think money is going to be harder to find next year, and if we can save, that’s good.”

Questions from Commissioners included whether or not the county would have to guarantee purchase of a certain quantity, whether or not the county would need to provide a place to stockpile materials, delivery costs, and availability of materials in higher quantities from a single supplier.

“These suppliers love these types of agreements,” Denniston said. “They start out the year looking at a clean slate, and saying how much are we going to need to produce this year. They have fixed costs such as insurance, payroll, light bills, fuel bills and such. If they can lock up a portion of their revenue in a contract, they love it.”

“I am encouraged by the fact that the precincts look at it this way,” said Bush. “We can always negotiate better if we have something to negotiate with. Work your magic, Richard!”

In other purchasing-related items, Commissioners declared a list of items from the Department of Development and a list of items granted to the Sheriff’s Office as seized items to be surplus and authorized their disposal at auction, pending removal of any items that can be utilized by a county department. The auction will be conducted online.

In other business, Commissioners:

• Accepted the resignation of Don Weldon from the Bristol Emergency Service District #7 Board of Directors and appointed Gene Marusak to fill Mr. Weldon’s unexpired term, running through December 2011;
• Reclassified one Deputy III to Civilian Animal Control; four Deputy I to Deputy II; one Deputy II to Deputy III; and one Deputy III to Deputy Corporal effective April 1, 2010 within the Sheriff’s Office;
• Took no action on a three-year contract with Westlaw online subscription service pending receipt of additional information;
• Selected Corbet Commercial Builders as the most qualified contractor for construction of the Adult Probation and Emergency Management facility;
• Approved increases in hourly pay rates for certain road and bridge employees after removing the item from the consent agenda, with Commissioner Heath Sims, pct. 3, casting the only dissenting vote.