Commissioners weigh centralized Amazon business account versus buying local; ask staff for more research

Williams County commissioners spent a substantial portion of their July 15 meeting discussing whether to create a county-wide Amazon Business/Prime account for consolidated purchasing. Staff said county departments spent about $50,000 on Amazon purchases in the first six months of the year and described a business-plan option that could include up to 100 users for an annual fee (staff cited an example annual fee of about $1,300).

Supporters noted potential savings on shipping and consolidated billing; opponents urged protections for local vendors and said some departments already buy from local suppliers on pallets. Commissioners expressed concern that a consolidated Amazon account could erode local purchasing and discussed requiring departments to prioritize local vendors when products are available.

The board did not approve a contract. Commissioners asked staff to provide six months of Amazon purchasing data, sample pricing under the business plan and a more detailed account structure and to consider procurement alternatives such as a county purchasing agent or centralized purchasing for common supplies. One commissioner said the auditor’s office and elected officials’ offices could be initial test users and the board would reassess after a demonstration or negotiation with the vendor.

No procurement action was taken at the meeting; staff were directed to return with a report.