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Council discusses consistent policy for selling surplus city equipment after firefighter requests to buy trailer
Summary
Council debated how to handle sale of a department trailer requested by a firefighter; staff advised following state rules for items under $25,000, using public sales and passing council resolutions to set sale method and a future surplus policy.
Councilors discussed a request to sell a city department trailer after a firefighter who had a shed fire expressed interest in buying it. Staff said Minnesota rules allow the sale of city property under $25,000 on the open market — but emphasized the city should use a public or competitive option and pass a resolution to specify the sale method.
Council members said consistency is the goal: set thresholds so low-value items follow one process and higher-value items follow another. "If it's under a $25,000 value you can sell on open market...but you have to have it actively on the open market," a staff speaker said, noting that items should not be transferred without an active public offering.
Council directed staff to draft a consistent policy and bring it back for consideration so that staff will not need to ask the council for ad hoc decisions each time a surplus item arises.
The discussion was informational and no formal sale was authorized at the meeting.
