Council discusses traffic-code amendment and options for disposing surplus fire equipment

Council members on Nov. 10 discussed proposed changes to Centerville's traffic code and options for disposing surplus firefighting equipment, and asked staff to prepare draft documents for future action.

S5 recited the ordinance title on the floor as 'Ordinance number 2025 at code 9' described in the transcript as an amendment to the town's traffic code (Centerville, Indiana, Chapter 75). Council members noted the ordinance had completed a first reading but that the 30-day posting period had not yet elapsed.

Separately, council members raised a policy question about how to handle a mobile scale unit and other firefighting equipment no longer used by the department. S3 and S2 discussed options: transfer to another Lee County fire department, gift or trade, or sale via auction or Internet auction sites. S2 suggested preparing a resolution that would authorize a purchasing agent or other designated official to contact other agencies first (a first-right-of-refusal approach) and to document responses before moving to public sale, and recommended aligning local ordinance language with the state fire marshal’s schedule for clarity.

S2 also flagged publication and public-bid requirements for surplus property in some cases and recommended including alternative disposal authority in the resolution (for example, authorizing auction if no local takers exist). S3 indicated he would coordinate with the chief and clerk on a billing/disposition policy draft. No final ordinance adoption or final resolution vote was taken at the Nov. 10 meeting; council members directed staff to draft language and follow the surplus-property procedures discussed.