CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – At the Tuesday meeting of the Clarion County Commissioners, Some light was shed on plans for the former Goodwill (or Golden Dawn building) at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Liberty Street purchased last year by Clarion County.
Commissioner Ted Tharan announced that work on the interior of the building by county maintenance staff members would soon start and encouraged Clarion County businesses to join a state program that simplifies government purchases.
In terms of tenants, commissioners are currently looking at moving probation offices located in the former Haskell Building at the corner of Main Street and Fifth Avenue and the office of District Magistrate Duane Quinn (District Court 18-3-01) located at 14 Grant Street.
“The county currently pays the rent for both locations, and it will mean a savings for the county when the move is made,” said Budget Director Rose Logue.
There is no projected finish date for the renovation.
Clarion County is going to purchase all materials needed for the renovation, when possible, through COSTARS, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Cooperative Purchasing Program. Government entities such as counties, townships, or boroughs can purchase a wide range of items without bidding or advertising.
Municipalities have historically used such state programs in the past for the purchase of vehicles, but Tharan would like to see it used for much more in order to save money.
“There are two or three dealers within 75 miles of here,” said Tharan. “What we’ll do is we’ll get prices off those dealers, compare them, negotiate those and end up with the best possible price.”
Clarion County, working with the Small Business Development Center, has scheduled a program to help areas businesses also become a COSTAR vendor.
“We’re planning to hold the meeting on Thursday, July 6, at 10:00 a.m. and a location is yet to be determined,” said Logue. “The lead person from the Pennsylvania COSTARS program agreed to come and give a presentation and walk through people on how to become a COSTAR Vendor.”
Tharan emphasized that the commissioners would like to see as many businesses as possible to investigate being a COSTAR vendor.
“We need all of the local businesses — not just lumber yards — but if you sell lawnmowers or whatever you should become a COSTAR dealer because when the county, the borough, or township, or the university needs something instead of going through a real long bidding process, you can go to a pre-approved costar dealer and make your best deal with them and purchase it.”
The system also allows governmental groups to save money on bidding and advertising costs.
COSTAR serves as a conduit through which registered and eligible local public procurement units (LPPUs) and state-affiliated entities (members) are able to leverage contracts established by DGS to cost effectively and efficiently identify suppliers with whom to do business.
The goals of this program are:
- To encourage, expand and facilitate the opportunities for members to achieve procurement savings and best value through an interactive partnership with the commonwealth.
- To provide increased opportunities for suppliers of any size to participate and compete for members’ business.
- To provide contracts with competitive pricing.
