Since the days of Mineral County Sheriff Tom Bauer, the vehicles east of the Mineral County Airport in the fenced impound lot have been slated to be auctioned.

Commissioner Shawn Smalley is adamant that it will take place on Saturday, June 20. Not only the impound lot with vehicles, trailers, and at least one motorhome, but the motorcycles, ATV’s, snowmobiles and welders that are in the old Fire Hall Building in the parking lot of the Mineral County Courthouse. Plus, equipment from the county road department in their shop just east of Town Pump. 

That location is where the first auction of the day takes place at 10 a.m., which is at 595 Diamond Match Road. Five cattle guards and a 13-foot plow are a few of the items with the full list to be posted on the county website, Smalley said. 

At 11 a.m., the impound lot auction will take place and then at 1 p.m., the items from the old Fire Hall Building will be in the parking lot. Sheriff Funke said the building is too jam-packed so he and a crew will move everything out to the parking lot while the other auctions are taking place.

At the planning meeting last Wednesday, it was announced that there would not be a preview period for the merchandise as Smalley said that they do not have the time, resources, or volunteers to open the gates and buildings to allow entry for inspection of the items that will be sold. 

Gordon Hendrick with the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office and Deputy County Attorney Wally Congdon suggested hiring a professional auction company to conduct the sale. The company would advertise the event, inspect and appraise the inventory, handle all sales, bring in an auctioneer and enough staff to run the event for a percentage of the gross sales. However, it was decided that the county would organize and operate the entire auction internally with Hendrick as the auctioneer. 

All sales will be "as is" with no warranty and payment will be cash, cashiers or certified check, or credit card. Sheriff Ryan Funke and County Treasurer Merry Mueller were discussing how she could run credit cards through a patrol car on site for payments as each vehicle is a secure hot spot. A certificate of sale will be issued for release of the merchandise and removal of items will be within 48 hours of the auction unless other arrangements are made.