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Public asks for fair access to campus equipment; committee to contract inventory and consider auction
Summary
A resident urged the committee to allow other public institutions to bid on campus equipment transferred to the fire department; staff said SEH and a vendor will inventory items and scope auctions, aiming for a fair distribution process.
During public comment, Brandon Federle, a Richland County resident, asked whether equipment that left the campus and went to the fire department might have been better shared with other county institutions or school districts and urged the county to allow reasonable offers rather than giving items away.
"There was some equipment that went from the campus to the fire department. Correct?" Federle asked. He continued: "I'm going to make a plea that if the fire department is [receiving items], at least give us the ability to make a reasonable offer." The comment sought an equitable approach to scarce county resources.
Staff responded that SEH Consulting and county staff have identified a vendor capable of conducting a campus-wide inventory and handling auctions if the county chooses that route. A walkthrough and vendor meeting were scheduled for the following week to narrow scope and cost. Staff warned the distribution process could be contentious because usable items are limited.
"We don't have enough to go around for everybody and everybody's scrambling," a staff member said, noting they would "do our best to be fair and equitable" in allocating items such as desks, filing cabinets and chairs to departments requesting them.
What happens next: staff will complete the vendor walkthrough, report back with estimates for a full inventory and auction options, and bring recommendations to the committee. The county emphasized the exercise is still at the proposal stage and no contracts will be signed before further scoping.
Why it matters: public concern about transparency and equitable distribution of county property prompted the committee to accelerate procurement of inventory services and to consider procedural safeguards for departments and community groups that want access to surplus items.
