The St. Francois County Commission meeting on September 30, 2025, featured a presentation by Carrie Welch from Gut Deals, a government auction service. Welch outlined the advantages of using Gut Deals compared to the current service, Purple Wave, emphasizing that Gut Deals does not charge taxpayers for its services. Instead, the company generates revenue by charging the winning bidders.

Welch highlighted several key differentiators of Gut Deals. She noted that the platform is designed specifically for public sector transactions, ensuring compliance and transparency through features like audit trails and time stamps. Unlike Purple Wave, which operates on a no-reserve auction model, Gut Deals allows for reserve prices, ensuring that items do not sell below market value. This flexibility enables the county to maintain control over the sale process.

Additionally, Welch assured the commission that Gut Deals accepts a wide range of items for auction, including those that may not be typically sought after, ensuring that the county can dispose of surplus items compliantly. She also offered assistance in processing items for auction, indicating that her team is available to help when needed.

The discussion also touched on the previous fee structure with Purple Wave, where the county incurred charges upon item sales. Welch recommended that the county adjust its account to ensure that all fees are passed on to bidders, relieving taxpayers of any costs.

Overall, the meeting underscored the potential benefits of switching to Gut Deals, including cost savings for taxpayers and enhanced auction flexibility. The commission will consider these options as they evaluate their current auction service provider.