June 29, 2009
Grand Jury Questions Some County Purchasing Practices
The 2008-2009 Imperial County Grand Jury wants the county's purchasing department to review all purchases done by the county, even those services and commodities that are purchased without going out to bid.
“Not all contracts go out to bid; some Department Heads go directly to the Board of Supervisors for approval of some large- expenditure items.” - excerpt from the Imperial County Grand Jury investigation of the Imperial County Purchasing DepartmentThe recommendation is one of several contained in an investigation into the workings of the department by the grand jury.
The investigation noted that the practice of putting contracts and commodities out for bid does not always occur at the county purchasing department.
The third paragraph of the report's findings begins “Not all contracts go out to bid; some Department Heads go directly to the Board of Supervisors for approval of some large-expenditure items.” The report's findings also indicate that local suppliers do not get preferential treatment, (except in a case where bids are even), and that the lowest bids is not always the bid chosen, rather the bid that represents the “best value” is the one that is chosen.
The report calls for all county purchases to be reviewed by the purchasing department before being finalized.
It also calls for a more efficient method to dispose of county surplus inventory. Currently, surplus autos are auctioned off once a year, and other surplus material such as office furniture, is also sold in the same manner. Other surplus items are stored in a Quonset hut. The grand jury wants those surplus items to be better inventoried and disposed of efficiently.
The grand jury noted that the seven person department also handles the mail for the county, which is a considerable task. The grand jury also recommended creating a separate entity just for handling county mail in the near future.
The Imperial County grand jury is charged with "investigating and reporting upon the operation, management, and fiscal affairs of local government in the county," according to the Imperial County Superior Court web site.
This function includes investigations of "allegations of misconduct against public officials and to determine whether to present formal accusations requesting the removal from office."
The 17- member grand jury is mandated by law to audit county agencies every five years, and perhaps most importantly to citizens and voters, the grand jury is charged with looking into citizen complaints regarding the operation, function, and management of local and county government agencies.
To view the history, function, and mandate of the Imperial County Grand Jury Click HERE. The link is to the 2007-2008 Imperial County Grand Jury report.
The 2008-2009 report is not yet available online. A written copy can be obtained at Imperial County Superior Court, located on Main St. in El Centro. To view the Superior Court Website, click HERE
The report calls for the Imperial County purchasing department to respond to the recommendations in writing.
“Not all contracts go out to bid; some Department Heads go directly to the Board of Supervisors for approval of some large- expenditure items.” - excerpt from the Imperial County Grand Jury investigation of the Imperial County Purchasing DepartmentThe recommendation is one of several contained in an investigation into the workings of the department by the grand jury.
The investigation noted that the practice of putting contracts and commodities out for bid does not always occur at the county purchasing department.
The third paragraph of the report's findings begins “Not all contracts go out to bid; some Department Heads go directly to the Board of Supervisors for approval of some large-expenditure items.” The report's findings also indicate that local suppliers do not get preferential treatment, (except in a case where bids are even), and that the lowest bids is not always the bid chosen, rather the bid that represents the “best value” is the one that is chosen.
The report calls for all county purchases to be reviewed by the purchasing department before being finalized.
It also calls for a more efficient method to dispose of county surplus inventory. Currently, surplus autos are auctioned off once a year, and other surplus material such as office furniture, is also sold in the same manner. Other surplus items are stored in a Quonset hut. The grand jury wants those surplus items to be better inventoried and disposed of efficiently.
The grand jury noted that the seven person department also handles the mail for the county, which is a considerable task. The grand jury also recommended creating a separate entity just for handling county mail in the near future.
The Imperial County grand jury is charged with "investigating and reporting upon the operation, management, and fiscal affairs of local government in the county," according to the Imperial County Superior Court web site.
This function includes investigations of "allegations of misconduct against public officials and to determine whether to present formal accusations requesting the removal from office."
The 17- member grand jury is mandated by law to audit county agencies every five years, and perhaps most importantly to citizens and voters, the grand jury is charged with looking into citizen complaints regarding the operation, function, and management of local and county government agencies.
To view the history, function, and mandate of the Imperial County Grand Jury Click HERE. The link is to the 2007-2008 Imperial County Grand Jury report.
The 2008-2009 report is not yet available online. A written copy can be obtained at Imperial County Superior Court, located on Main St. in El Centro. To view the Superior Court Website, click HERE
The report calls for the Imperial County purchasing department to respond to the recommendations in writing.