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Commission signs GovDeals MOU for surplus sales; donates six hospital items to Mapleton Clinic after debate
Summary
Bourbon County commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding to sell surplus county property through GovDeals and voted to donate six small pieces of hospital equipment to the Mapleton Clinic after public comment and debate about whether local auctioneers should have been solicited.
Bourbon County commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with GovDeals to sell surplus county property and voted to donate six pieces of county-owned hospital equipment to the Mapleton Clinic during their meeting.
The commission debated whether the county should have opened the sale to local auction houses before contracting with GovDeals, a nationwide online surplus-auction service. Commissioners and other speakers said a local auctioneer filed a complaint after the county shifted from an in‑house auction plan to GovDeals. One commissioner argued the county had not followed “due process” when it changed from an internal auction to an outside vendor and said local bidders should be given an opportunity to propose alternatives. Another commissioner noted GovDeals charges no direct fee to the county and has international reach, which can bring a wider buyer pool.
Greg Post, who identified himself as representing Friends of Mapleton, told commissioners the Mapleton Clinic wanted six small pieces of medical equipment and asked whether the county could donate them rather than sell them. “We have a clinic in Mapleton … there’s six pieces of equipment … it would help the local area,” Post said during public comment.
Following discussion, the commission moved to donate the six specified items to the Mapleton Clinic and approved signing the MOU with GovDeals. The record shows a motion to donate the six items and a separate motion to sign the MOU; both motions were seconded and carried. The minutes and remarks indicate commissioners intend to create a list of local contractors for future work and said staff should allow local vendors to express interest before future contracts are finalized.
The county clerk and public works staff were asked to provide a list and photos of the six items destined for Mapleton and to track which pieces will be excluded from the online sale. Commissioners also asked staff to develop a local-contractor list for future procurements and to follow a formal bidding or solicitation process if the commission decides to pursue sealed bids rather than direct contracts in the future.
The donations and the MOU were handled as two separate motions on the consent/old-business portion of the agenda; the minutes show both actions were placed on the record and approved. No dollar amounts for proceeds from the GovDeals auction were given at the meeting.
Commissioners said they intend to clarify bidding rules going forward and to be more transparent about switching methods (in‑house, local auctioneer, or online vendor) so local businesses have notice and opportunity to submit proposals.
