NORMAN — Cleveland County Commissioners are gearing up for the upcoming Elk City Auction, one of the largest equipment auctions in the state.

“Last year, I think they ran about $7.4 million,” said Mike Graham, of Mike Graham Auctioneers, the company that conducts the annual Statewide CED Equipment Auction at the Elk City Convention Center.

“It helps us clean up our inventory,” District 3 County Commissioner Rusty Sullivan said. “It’s one of the ways prescribed that we can dispose of old equipment, and we get some money out of it. We can use those dollars to buy new equipment.”

County commissioners across the state declare outdated equipment as surplus and sell it at the auction. Counties are the primary source, but equipment comes from other places as well, Graham said, and sales are global.

“There’s equipment sold all over the U.S., and some goes overseas,” Graham said. “It’s got online Internet bidding, and we’ve sent equipment everywhere from there.”

The auction allows county commissioners to get some return on equipment past its prime or equipment the county just may not use anymore. Buyers, in turn, get a bargain on equipment that, when new, comes with a price tag too high for some small governmental entities or businesses.

All of the equipment is available for inspection prior to the sale.

“We have it all listed, have a catalogue of it, but most of the buyers that’s here either inspect it themselves or there’s a lot that call to bid over the Internet and I look at it myself,” Graham said. “Most either inspect it or have someone inspect it.”

Sullivan is selling a used crane because he doesn’t have any use for it.

“I like to dispose of equipment this way because it is so well documented,” Sullivan said. “And the money is sent directly to the county. It’s one of the best ways I know to dispose of old equipment.”

For Graham, it’s a busy time of year.

“It’s a lot of work,” he said. “I’ll start taking pictures for it next week, and we’ll have somebody in Elk City until the end of March. In fact, we’ll have several people out there.”

Sullivan said the exposure the Elk City sale gets allows commissioners to get the maximum for the equipment.

While the Elk City Auction in March is the biggest, there are other equipment auctions each year.

“We have one in McAlester also every year, but this one’s usually quite a bit larger than it,” Graham said.

This year’s Elk City Auction will start at 9 a.m. March 8 and 9.

Cleveland County Commissioners approved the following equipment surplus to be sold at the Elk City Auction:

· From District 1 — 20-foot Wellscargo gooseneck trailer, 1998 Dodge pickup, Freightliner Dump Truck, 1988 Freightliner, Sharp Digital Copier System, John Deere Tractor, Case Farm Tractor, Tiger Tractor and Accessories, MC5 Rotary Air Compressor, 1996 Rosco Chipper, Generator 3 axle trailer, 15-foot Dumpbed, Sidemount Tiger Rotary Mower

· From District 3 — two 2007 Chevrolet pickups, Chevrolet pickup, 1991 Ford Truck Tractor, Link Belt Crane, Backhoe, Lufkin Dump Rock Trailer

County commissioners also accepted the retirement letter of Emergency Management Director Dan Cary.

“Reluctantly accepted,” Commission Chair Rod Cleveland said.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” Cary said. “I look forward to moving on to another phase of my life.”

An interview committee comprised of Dale Freck from the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma, Cary and the county commissioners will search for Cary’s replacement. District 2 County Commissioner Darry Stacy will head the committee.

The position will be posted for 14 days to gather applications. Interviews will start the first week of February.

Sheriff Joe Lester reported that 399 prisoners currently are in the F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center. Of those, 91 are Department of Corrections prisoners, and all but 13 of those have already received their judgment and sentencing and are awaiting transport to DOC facilities.

“There’s no room in the prison,” Lester said.

In other county business, commissioners approved the following blanket purchase orders:

· Cleveland County Commissioners Office — Central Oklahoma Community Action $7,500

· District 1 Warehouse —Inland Truck Parts Company $1,500; Industrial Specialties $1,000; Fleet Pride $1,200

· District 2 Warehouse — Noble Farm and Building Supply LLC $1,500; American Logo & Sign Inc. $750; Fleet Pride $1,500; Perfection Equipment Company Inc. $750; Superco Specialty Products $1,000; Standard Steel Company Inc. $1,000; Weldon Parts Inc. $500; Warren Cat $2,500; McPherson Machine Shop $1,200; Weldon Parts Inc. $2,000

· District 3 Warehouse —Waste Disposal Services Inc. $300

· Health Department — Katherine Morgan $50; W. W. Grainger Inc. $800; Sooner Copy Machines $3,000

· Sheriff’s Office — Binswanger Glass 635 $900; Aramark Correctional Services LLC $27,000; Aramark Correctional Services LLC $38,000; Copelin’s Office Center $1,000; UniFirst $125; Occupational Health Centers SW, P.A $750.

Joy Hampton

366-3539

jhampton@

normantranscript.com

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