Hunterdon Freeholder Van Doren: County’s Shared Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: February 27, 2018

Contact: Shaun C. Van Doren

svandoren@co.hunterdon.nj.us

Hunterdon Freeholder Van Doren Reminds Towns About The County’s Shared Service For Roadway Treatment

Freeholder Shaun C. Van Doren, the Board’s liaison for the Engineering and Public Works Department, encourages all Hunterdon County municipalities to participate in the County’s chip seal cooperative purchasing shared service program. The deadline for participation is March 30, 2018.

Freeholder Van Doren said at the February 6 Board meeting, “One of the County’s most effective shared services has been the award of contracts through cooperative purchasing with municipalities for surface treatment of roadways, known better as the chip seal program.

Municipalities were contacted earlier in the year by the Engineering Department advising that the cooperative purchasing program, where towns can benefit due to the economies of scale, is available. Municipalities still pay their share of the cost of the program, but at an expected lower rate when bid in total with the County and other towns.

Additionally, by participating in the cooperative purchasing program, municipalities avoid the cost and time consuming effort to comply with state purchasing laws and to prepare bid specifications and to seek bids, as the County Purchasing unit handles those chores.”

According to the County Engineering Department, the chip seal program extends the life of county and local roadways that are beginning to show signs of wear for another projected 5 years, at a lesser expense than paving or reconstruction. It is cost effective and helps to maintain safe roads in the county.

The Freeholder added, “Municipalities must submit the required form and a location map to the Engineering Department by March 30th.”

The Hunterdon County Department of Engineering can be reached by phone 908-788-1227 or by email: engineering@co.hunterdon.nj.us.