Hall County Purchasing Manager Tim Sims has a hand in all county spending from major construction projects to office supplies.

And in the midst of a recession, many tough choices must be made in regard to spending.

“The administration has charged us with being the gatekeepers,” Sims said. “We have closely been watching purchasing that comes through.”

Though Hall County has suspended capital spending, there is still much to be done in the purchasing department.

Through June, Sims will be reviewing the county’s roughly 100 contracts for services and products to determine which will renewed and which will be put out to bid.

“Our everyday operational things have been what we have continued to bid,” Sims said. “We do our best to get it purchased at the lowest responsible price.”

Sims said for services, sometimes the lowest bid may not always be the best. Bidders must be able to provide all the proper licenses and permits as well as the best price to be selected for the job.

He is also busy bidding out work for the Hall County Animal Control Facility and the Georgia State Patrol post.

The animal control facility has been challenging, Sims said.

“I recently had to bid an animal crematory,” he said. “That was a little morbid.”

Sims said his favorite part of the job is getting to interact with many different people.

“I have a good relationship with all the county employees,” Sims said. “It’s something different every day.”

Sims is a native of Hall County and started with the Hall County Finance Department 11 years ago as a staff accountant.

Sims and his wife, Joy, have two sons, Andrew and Alex. They attend Blackshear Place Baptist Church, where Sims sings in the choir.