Committee rejects countywide Amazon Business Prime membership after members cite unclear benefits

Sumner County commissioners considered a memorandum authorizing a countywide Amazon Business Prime membership that would be free the first year and carry a roughly $3,499 annual value afterward. Staff said the vendor offered a first-year free promotion and estimated future annual costs would be in the neighborhood of current commercial rates.

Public comment and committee discussion expressed concerns about relying on a single private vendor and about the difficulty of quantifying net savings across departments. Resident Kevin Baker, who addressed the committee during recognition of the public, said he was wary of the county "getting in bed with a California company" and questioned whether other local or regional suppliers had been considered.

Several committee members said they would vote against the item while allowing it to leave the agenda; by voice vote the committee declined to adopt a countywide Business Prime membership.

Next steps: The item was defeated at committee and will not be implemented countywide; departments that currently maintain individual Prime memberships will continue to do so unless otherwise directed.