City to sell surplus through online auction

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The Fort Scott City Commission approved a contract with Purple Wave Auction, Inc. for the sale of about $94,000 worth of surplus equipment during Tuesday evening meeting at City Hall.

Equipment up for auction will include the asphalt plant, lawn mowers, seven cars and trucks, as well as several larger tractors and other equipment with a total estimated value of $93,685. Richard Bates, of Purple Wave Auction, Inc., who was at the meeting said the city should expect to get the estimated value out of the equipment.

Bates said Purple Wave Auction, Inc. is the largest Internet-based auction firm in Kansas with about 54,000 registered buyers. He said they use specialized marketing tools to attract buyers from the local community as well as in other parts of the county.

"We specialize on creating an auction event around your assets and focus on bringing buyers to bid aggressively to help realize a greater return," Bates said in a letter to the commission.

Through the auction firm, potential buyers will be able to look at photographs and read descriptions of the equipment as well as come to Fort Scott and look at the equipment before bidding during the live online auction.

Bates said the auction could take place as soon as Jan. 19. He said the auction is just like a live auction except it is done though the Internet, not like other auction sites such as Ebay.com which allow multiple days for the bidding on an item.

"We'll be happy to get rid of that equipment," Fort Scott City Manager Joe Turner said.

Turner said the city's milling and overlay machines have been removed from the list of surplus equipment because the estimated value does not equal the amount the city still owes on the purchase of the items. In addition he said the equipment can still be used during the city's alley project.

Other business conducted included:

* Local resident Bob Vernon inquired about the striping on Wall Street. He said many people now think it is a four-lane road and thinks something should be done about it. Fort Scott Public Works Director Eric Bailey said that the Kansas Department of Transportation approved of the current striping. Fort Scott Police Chief Ron Puterbaugh said the striping is appropriate.

* Accepted $50,709 awarded to the Fort Scott Police Department through the 2010 Kansas Wireless Enhanced 911 Grant.

* Fort Scott Director of Finance Susan Brown informed the commission on projects which will be funded with assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

* Fort Scott Director of Economic Development Dale Bunn informed the commission of a potential Transportation Enhancement Grant opportunity which would fund 80 percent of the cost for making transportation improvements to the downtown area including Skubitz Plaza renovations, creating two-way traffic on Main Street, and streetscape improvements of Wall Street west of U.S. Highway 69. A meeting with the commissioners was scheduled for 5 p.m., Dec. 29, to discuss the options.

* Fort Scott Commissioner Jim Adams requested an executive session for commissioners only to discuss nonelected personnel.