Council approves auction of items and hears airport-lease update; auction set for Aug. 15

The Vinita City Council authorized an auction of seized or abandoned items and reviewed several airport-lease and hangar matters during open session, approving a contract for the sale and setting the auction for Aug. 15.

Legal counsel, Mr. Olsen, told the council the hearing on the Tom Shelton lease remains scheduled for Monday and that he would report back after the hearing. "For the lease agreement regarding Tom Shelton, our hearing is still scheduled for Monday," Mr. Olsen said.

On the related issue of Mr. Reed's hangars, Mr. Olsen said he had communicated with Reed's daughter, who had indicated she intended to hire a law firm but that the city had received no filings or representative. He said the probate is dormant and recommended the city move forward. "This has been going on long enough ... I would recommend that it's time for us to move forward," Mr. Olsen said, urging action.

Mr. Olsen reviewed a proposed contract to hold a public auction of items, noting one contract revision removed a requirement that the city provide titles or keys it cannot locate, and suggested moving the sale from Aug. 8 to Aug. 15 to avoid a rodeo weekend. He said the city would deduct its expenses from sale proceeds and deposit the remainder with the court clerk for distribution to the estate; he also said he would keep the daughter informed.

A committee member (motion recorded in the transcript as Lair) moved to proceed with the auction contract for Aug. 15; the motion was seconded (recorded as Brierley). The council approved the motion with no recorded opposition, authorizing the sale and directing that proceeds be turned over to the court for estate distribution.

The transcript records the council's authorization and the intended process for proceeds, but it does not include a detailed roll-call vote. The hearing on the Tom Shelton lease, referenced by legal counsel, remained pending and will be reported on at a later meeting.