NORWICH – The inability to attract regional companies to bid on providing needed public works equipment and materials could force Chenango County to purchase those items only from companies registered with New York State, officials say.

Public Works Department Director Randy Gibbon said many local companies initially express an interest in bidding on items, but don’t follow through.

“It may come to not worrying about and going through the process of trying to get anybody local again,” he said.

Gibbon said no company bid on taking away used electronic equipment that the county plans to collect during a household hazardous waste collection day scheduled this fall. A number of other pieces of equipment were bid on by only two bidders.

As directed by the Public Works Committee, the DOT last month wrote to the companies it regularly solicits from to determine reasons for not participating in the bidding process. Of the 35 surveyed, only six responded. At least one business said fluctuating prices prevented them from being able to guarantee a price for a year.

Gibbon said his department regularly follows solicitation letters with phone calls.

In other department news, Gibbon said the county’s voluntary recycling program could be paying for itself “very shortly.”

Recycling is up 50 tons from last year; revenue is up $21,000. “We are tracking much better already,” he said. The department budgeted $134,000 for 2007 and anticipated revenues could amount to $170,000 by year’s end.