Lawrence County approves countywide Amazon Business account to centralize purchases

Lawrence County approved a countywide Amazon Business account on Jan. 27, 2026, after the county controller outlined how the change would reduce sales-tax charges on purchases and lower exposure to credit‑card fraud. Controller Presto Pine said the county currently relies on employees’ personal Amazon accounts or a centralized county card, which can generate sales-tax charges or expose county credit cards to risk.

"What I'm requesting here is basically the county enter an agreement with the Amazon business account," Presto Pine said, describing departmental sign‑ins, monthly billing broken down by department and an automated approval workflow to prevent unauthorized orders. He added that Amazon Business pricing and the county’s tax-exempt status should produce savings compared with individual accounts.

Commissioners asked whether the approval flow would resemble existing government purchasing systems; Presto Pine said it would, with automated notifications for approvers. Commissioner Kennedy called the proposal "a great idea," and another commissioner said it closely mirrors state purchasing practices and presents no identified downside.

The board moved, seconded and unanimously approved Resolution 9 to establish the Amazon Business account. Vanessa (the clerk calling roll) recorded the unanimous vote. The resolution was listed on the meeting agenda as Resolution 9; the board provided no additional conditions on implementation during the session.