The Ellis County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 7 voted 2–0 to approve a county list of surplus vehicles and equipment for sale via online auction vendor Purple Wave, but the commissioners agreed to exclude Victoria Fire Engine E40 from this round pending a storage plan.

Public-works staff presented a long list of items departments forwarded for disposal or sale, including vehicles, tools and office equipment. Commissioner Michael Burgess moved to approve the list with the exception of Engine E40; Commissioner Neil Younger seconded and the motion passed 2–0.

Public-works staff explained E40 had a 30-foot fire pump installed and that Commissioner Leiker (not present) had previously advocated keeping the unit as a reserve for county fire-support, ISO rating and training purposes. Staff noted indoor, heated storage would be required to preserve the truck over winter and that space is limited. Commissioners said they were willing to retain the engine for up to a year while the county considers a storage building tied to a proposed PBC bond or until the county can arrange indoor storage in the interim.

Staff also discussed one snow-plow attachment that has been listed previously and which has not been retrieved after sale; commissioners directed staff to re-list and, if it again fails to sell, to dispose of it as scrap.

The vote authorized staff to proceed with the Purple Wave listing (excluding E40) and to coordinate logistics and disposal for unsold items.