Comments on: A Toaster, Cookies, Salt And Pepper From Amazon: Century Council Member Questions Town’s Online Purchases

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 14:01:57 +0000

“Why an Air Fryer???”

To fry air.

(Much harder than it looks, hard to meal the air, hard to keep the air in the grease)

By: Mary H Bourgeois

Mary H Bourgeois — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 21:36:41 +0000

Why an Air Fryer???

By: Julie Booth-Moran

Julie Booth-Moran — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 05:45:36 +0000

It would be nice if “ Shopping local” became first choice for all the Town of Century, all the businesses, their owners & the employees. Just in the items named above, we sell muffins, cookies, bottled water, & air fresheners, cleaning products, toilet paper, paper towels, just to name a few items. We are truly LOCAL, where as CVS, General Dollar, Family Dollar are not. The employees that work there may spend their paychecks locally but the stores are chains so the sales go to headquarters. So that money doesn’t stay in the community. Great article…. Btw, Food Giant is owned by its employees. #Shoplocalfirst

By: Take 6

Take 6 — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 04:22:26 +0000

I said I would be watching and Century you are going to have to do better. That is very wasteful and I see why we have financial problems. That’s very wasteful. Seems as though management Has Hollywood appetite on a welfare budget. Now we know you got some fresh stacks of money coming, and the way things are going it will last no time

By: SH

SH — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 00:57:32 +0000

Meh, seems like a lot of fuss over a little issue.

Sure, makes sense to buy local if all other things are equal. I’d rather not pay somebody to leave the office and go shopping if they can order it online for cheaper and have it delivered.

I can’t imagine you can save enough on $2,450 in purchases to make it worthwhile to take up time at a town council meeting.

By: Reader

Reader — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 18:24:07 +0000

“WOW, I’m not from Century but I could spend one month with them and they would be BUYING Local”

I understand the thought, but if “local” is limited to the town of Century, as implied by Ms. Lewis, there are few places to choose from. A Family Dollar, Dollar General, CVS, Century Pharmacy and the Food Giant. Not practical places to purchase bulk copy paper, ink, etc like normally used in an office. IF they carried copy paper, for instance, t would be in single reams and thus overpriced. They probably don’t stock the necessary ink and toner cartridges.

Purchasing an air fryer or toaster for commercial use at a dollar store is probably not advisable. Their cheaper units are not designed that well; they are just cheap.

If they expand “local” to Escambia County, it’s not practical to drive a 1.5 to 2 hour trip to Pensacola to purchase a toaster vs. buying it from Amazon delivered to the door.

They also need to check their fire and liability insurance…many commercial policies will not allow items like a toaster or air fryer in kitchen.

By: Patricia Short

Patricia Short — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 17:42:28 +0000

WOW, I’m not from Century but I could spend one month with them and they would be BUYING Local. A little planning ahead with local companies and things run smooth. I can’t believe Lowes or ANY corporate store is not set up for TAX EXEMPT companies, for surely these types of companies use Lowes and others.

The City should have an authorized Petty Cash fund. I’m assuming a responsible adult and not some kid in high school would be responsible for the PC fund. You give the petty cash & receipt it & they sign for it. They have 24 hours to bring the receipt back or if not then bring back the petty cash. THEY ARE ADULTS WHO APPLIED FOR A JOB, THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. If they cannot handle the responsibility of the job then move on and let someone who can have the job.

The Council should pass a ordinance/law with a list of items that can be purchased with petty cash without approval from the Council. Items like Toasters, Air Fryers etc.. should be submitted to the Council for approval prior to purchasing.

YOU NEVER EVER GO OUTSIDE OF YOUR CITY/COUNTY TO PURCHASE ANYTHING UNLESS IT CAN’T BE FOUND. IF IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE & YOU CAN’T FIND IT CHEAPER IN YOUR CITY/COUNTY THEN YOU PUT IT UP FOR BIDS & IF THE LOCAL STORES WANT THE BUSINESS THEY’LL COUGH UP A GOOD BID.

KUDOS to council member Ms Dynette Lewis for actually doing her job.

By: Seriously

Seriously — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 17:11:53 +0000

Toner? Like makeup Toner? $100 Air fryer?
Yea. Every office needs one of those to make it thru the day. Air freshener? I can see why that was bought. Something certainly stinks in Century’s leadership as far as finances for sure. Who is suppose to “OK” these purchases? Or is it just a “get it if u want it ” type of situation? Shoot, I’d like to go to work for them!!

By: gubment employee

gubment employee — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 13:20:50 +0000

Having worked for gubment at many levels (federal, state, county, and city), I know how archaic and convoluted the purchasing processes can be. Running down to the local store to purchase something is not always the easiest or most efficient way to get things. Once, I took my government credit card to Lowe’s to make some minor hardware purchases that were needed for our office. In addition to travel time, it took the Lowe’s employees nearly an hour to figure out how to make the sale without charging tax. From then on, Amazon was my first choice for using the card… no travel time, no waiting in long lines (while on the clock getting paid), no waiting for retail employees to figure out a fairly simple transaction made difficult by their corporate POS systems. So, no need to question why they are using Amazon… they are probably doing the taxpayers a favor by doing so. If you want to question the items purchased, go ahead.

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 06:05:41 +0000

@DLo – I have been making that same comment on this website for a few years now. Dissolve the charter and let the county have it.