Indian River County — The Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to authorize staff to begin selling surplus county property via online auction.
The County will contract with Public Surplus, a website at www.publicsurplus.com to dispose of equipment, furniture, computers and other items that are not considered vehicles.
Purchasing Manager Jennifer Hyde said being able to dispose of smaller items online would save staff time, as well as open the bidding up to bidders all over the country, potentially increasing the revenue that could be generated.
Also, auctioning equipment off as it becomes available would get it out to the public in better working order and would make funds available to replace the old equipment with new needed items sooner.
“There’s a significant loss of value when things sit around,” Hyde said, adding that County staff has to handle and move surplus items at least two times to get ready for the annual live auction.
Other local governments, including the Indian River County School District and the Town of Indian River Shores have experienced good results from online auction sites, Hyde told Commissioners.
Commissioners rejected a proposal to also sell surplus vehicles online, opting instead to maintain the live auction format for cars, trucks or other such equipment.
The concern with vehicles, raised by Commissioner Wesley Davis who for many years has worked as an auctioneer, is obtaining an affidavit clearing the County of the title record of the vehicle to prevent costs or paperwork later on should the vehicle be impounded, seized or used in the commission of a crime.
The online auction option for non-vehicular surplus goods will cover items that exhaust their use to the County going forward, but a list of 24 items is set to be included in an auction being held by Sheriff Deryl Loar for his agency at 10 a.m. on May 31 at the Sheriff’s Office Complex.
In addition to items being offered by the Sheriff, various other County departments are selling one cargo van, one minivan, a copier, two printers, several scanners, an ice machine, exercise equipment from the recreation department, mowers, blowers, a turf aerator, a telephone system and numerous pieces of equipment for viewing and processing archival microfilm.
