Can the Haines Borough dispose of surplus equipment through an online auction site like eBay?
As members of the Haines Borough Assembly on March 27 discussed two pieces of equipment – a caterpillar 140H grader with wing blade and a Jeep and water wagon – set for disposal by public sealed bid auction to the highest bidder, assemblyman Steve Vick suggested eBay would attract a wider audience.
Vick said eBay was particularly well suited for the Jeep and water wagon, which public facilities director Brian Lemcke described as “a really rare item.”
“It’s mechanically not in very good shape, but it’s going to draw some interest,” Lemcke said.
Borough manager Mark Earnest said borough code would limit possible disposal methods to sealed bids, public outcry auction or selecting a best-qualified proposer.
“Public outcry would be the closest I could think of (to eBay), although that’s defined and I don’t see a way to have a disposal through eBay, but maybe somebody else can weigh in on this,” he said.
Assembly member Debra Schnabel said borough code for surplus equipment should be updated and “brought into the modern day.”
“It doesn’t provide for what we want to do,” she said.
Earnest recommended for the assembly to proceed with seeking sealed bids.
“In the meantime, borough administration/staff can research to see what potential value there is out there,” he said. “I think we could also, simultaneously, bring back an ordinance that would expand the options, and make the decision based on what our research is.”
According to a resolution the assembly adopted last week, the grader has a minimum bid of $10,000 and the minimum bid for the Jeep and water wagon is $1,250. Both vehicles are no longer running. Bids are due Tuesday, April 17.
An assembly-approved resolution is required for disposal of municipal property valued between $1,000 and $25,000.