Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Items approved for surplus this month in Garfield include a familiar sight to many Whitman County drivers.
The Garfield Police Department car that was parked at the north end of town on Highway 27 will now be surplussed, along with an orange dump truck and a John Deere Gator vehicle.
The three items were approved to be sold by the town council Feb. 22.
The police car, which had not been used since Garfield joined with the Palouse Police Department, was bought 13 years ago when current Mayor Ray McCown served previously as mayor. It was bought new from Chipman & Taylor Chevrolet in Pullman.
“It just sat around here,” McCown said. “We used it for a decoy. People driving in, they'd see it, you could see the tail lights coming on.”
Last summer the car was put in equipment storage.
“We just haven't got room for it,” McCown said. “It's old enough now that nobody would use it for a police car.”
The John Deere Gator vehicle, which was used for 10 years, was deemed surplus by the council after it had problems running.
“It's really not a good piece of equipment for us,” said McCown.
The Gator was used, among other tasks, for a town Public Works employee to drive when reading water meters from April to October.
A third vehicle approved for surplus is a 1970s International diesel truck bought used from state surplus, when they were painted orange.
Garfield used it in recent years to haul snow, as recently as last year.
“Our current guys can't seem to get it to run,” said McCown.
The town will now advertise the vehicles for sale, after first working out a minimum bid.
If no bids come in by the closing date, the town council may legally negotiate with any interested buyer.
Proceeds from any sale would go toward Garfield's general fund account.
The town has no plans to replace the vehicles.
“It's not necessary,” McCown said.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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