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County to sell two inoperable Sterling dump trucks to Castle Rock for $10,000 each
Summary
Public works staff said the county will sell two inoperable 10-yard Sterling dump trucks to the city of Castle Rock for $10,000 apiece; staff said comparable inoperable units sell at auction for $10–15K and intergovernmental sales have fewer restrictions.
Cowlitz County public works staff told commissioners they were approached by the city of Castle Rock to purchase two inoperable Sterling 10-yard dump trucks that the county had retained for parts after replacing them in 2024.
Staff said the trucks are inoperable and that comparable inoperable units sell at auction in the $10,000–$15,000 range; if the vehicles were operable staff estimated auction value could be $20,000–$30,000. Castle Rock offered $10,000 per unit, and staff recommended the sale.
A commissioner asked whether intergovernmental sale rules require appraisal to avoid gifting public funds. Staff said transfers between government agencies have fewer restrictions and that they used recent auction data from Ritchie Brothers to establish the price range.
Transcripts indicate the commissioners present approved the sale verbally. Staff said the trucks had already been cannibalized for parts and that Castle Rock planned to use or combine them into one working vehicle.
Why it matters: sale of surplus county vehicles recovers some value and transfers equipment to another public agency; intergovernmental transfers often have different restrictions than public sales.
Next steps: staff to proceed with the sale to the city of Castle Rock and complete required paperwork.
