Commissioners pause surplus trade-in decision after auditor flags statute

Haskell County commissioners paused action on a proposed surplus trade-in and potential solicitation for replacement equipment after staff and an auditor raised concerns about whether the transaction complied with state statute.

One commissioner said the timeline appeared "too close" and the board should wait for guidance from legal counsel: "I think we're too close. And I want to wait and see what James says on that," the commissioner said. Commissioners agreed that would be prudent before finalizing any sale or procurement steps.

A county staff member said the auditor's office, including lead supervisor Ashley, had flagged the arrangement. "That is not allowed," the clerk said, adding that the auditor had pointed to a statute that may prohibit the proposed disposal or purchase process. The clerk said the office would seek clarification before the board moves forward.

A motion to surplus the trade-in and put the equipment out for bid was discussed during the meeting but commissioners did not finalize the action pending review by legal counsel. The meeting record shows a motion was raised but members requested confirmation from counsel and the auditor before completing the transaction.

The matter will return to a future agenda after the county’s legal counsel has reviewed the statute and provided a recommendation.

The discussion began at the start of the meeting and was left open for counsel review.