Tuesday, April 8, 2003

Atlantic County Cooperative Welcomes Hammonton

The Town of Hammonton is being welcomed as the newest member of the Atlantic County Cooperative. Hammonton's city council passed a resolution on March 24, 2003 to request membership in the 52-member cooperative that collectively bids on specific commodities to acquire savings.

According to County Executive Dennis Levinson, Hammonton officials became interested in joining the cooperative following the county's online auction for rock salt last September. At that time the county obtained a bid of $36.90 per ton of rock salt which was $8 per ton less than what was being charged through the state's cooperative.

Levinson said he is pleased to have Hammonton as a co-op member. "The cooperative is based upon the simple principle that it is cheaper to buy in bulk," he said. "I'm delighted that the residents of Hammonton will share in the cost-saving benefits."

As a member, Hammonton officials will be notified of all cooperative bids and given an opportunity to participate. Some of the items that are bid collectively, in addition to rock salt, are fuel oil, gasoline, janitorial supplies, sand and natural gas. Cooperative members include 23 municipalities, 24 boards of education, four county authorities and one college.

Members are also able to bid for electricity by participating in the South Jersey Power Cooperative that includes members from Atlantic, Cape May, Gloucester, Camden, Cumberland and Salem counties.

Final approval of Hammonton's membership request is required by the State Division of Local Government Services. It is expected in a month.

For more information, please contact Kathy Arrington, Atlantic County Director of Budget and Purchasing, at (609) 343-2268.

County News