CROWN POINT | The golden age of Lake County government printing contracts might soon be over if Councilman Larry Blanchard, R-Crown Point, has his wish.

Blanchard urged county officials on Tuesday to adopt a consolidated contract for printing county government envelopes, letterhead, business cards and other government forms.

He said the county could save 10 percent or more on its $490,000 in printing contracts -- including service and maintenance fees -- by consolidating the work for dozens of county offices into one competitive bidding package.

"It would be no-frills. No gold lettering or raised lettering or seals, but the savings would be substantial," he said.

Councilwoman Elsie Franklin, D-Gary, said she was concerned about the quality of the work.

"We had such poor quality of business cards, you could have done better by Xeroxing them," she said. "We had to send them back, and that was a waste of money."

The council took no vote on the matter.