Allen County Auction Services will organize an auction for surplus county equipment, likely sometime around the end of October.
Commissioners made the decision to go with former commissioner John Brocker’s auction house, one of two bids. Brocker asked for 15% of total proceeds; a competing bid from Ross Daniels asked for 20%.
It will take about a month to organize the auction, which is expected to include trucks and heavy equipment no longer needed by the county’s Public Works and road and bridge departments.
It also will include appliances from the former Humboldt Senior Center, which moved to a new building, and other surplus equipment such as old computers, chairs and other small items.
Commissioner decided to go with a live auction rather than online, hoping it will attract more buyers for all items. Brocker said his experience shows the county might make more money from selling the large equipment online; a live auction isn’t likely to make as much profit but it would sell all items.
“Online, you’ll sell the good stuff and the rest will be sitting there. They’re not going to buy tables and chairs online,” Brocker said.
“You’re pretty much giving it away, then,” Chairman Jerry Daniels said.
“But you get rid of it,” Brocker responded.
Commissioners asked Brocker to meet with department leaders to determine the best date, as county employees will need to be on hand to organize items.
Mitch Garner, Public Works director, and Mark Griffith, road and bridge director, both updated commissioners on various equipment needs for their departments.
Griffith asked commissioners to approve the purchase two three-quarter-ton trucks, one for each department. He and Garner twice sought bids for trucks, but because of supply chain issues, none were available. Recently he found a 2022 Ford F250 at Twin Motors, available for $55,775. Commissioners approved buying that truck for Griffith’s department.
Meanwhile, Sigg Motors came up with a used 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, for sale for $58,000. Commissioners approved buying that one for Garner’s crews.
Both men talked about machinery and equipment that need major repairs. Their departments have money in the budget for such things, as breakdowns are fairly common with that type of heavy-duty work. Unfortunately, costs tend to be high, both for repairs and new equipment.
For example, the county’s rock crusher machine has needed near-constant repairs. A boom mower caught on fire recently, and Griffith hopes to use the insurance to offset the cost of a much-higher-grade model. A bulldozer also needs replacing, which Griffith estimated could cost more than $800,000. Garner also talked about other equipment repairs at the landfill.
Commissioner Bruce Symes asked for the leaders to compile a comprehensive list of equipment that includes its age and potential cost of replacement.
