You’ve heard the old saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Many Nacogdoches residents have held their own garage or yard sale to get rid of all that extra stuff that is no longer useful. But, in the City of Nacogdoches’ case yard sales simply don’t suffice.
In June 2009, the City switched to a centralized approach to disposing of surplus items, in conjunction with other changes in the purchasing department. The surplus sales function for all the departments is now led by the City’s Purchasing Manager, Gary Baisden. In the three short years since centralizing surplus sales, the city has sold over 175 pieces of equipment, vehicles, and other miscellaneous lots and has realized more than $1 million in gross surplus sales receipts. “We are pleased with the results that this new system, and Gary specifically, have brought to the City,” said City Manager Jim Jeffers, “We couldn’t be more pleased with our Million Dollar Man.”
Most of the surplus sales have been through a national online internet auction site called GovDeals. GovDeals caters exclusively to public sector entities like cities, states and local governments and has helped the City of Nacogdoches expand our buyer market. “We have been able to greatly enhance the return on surplus items through higher auction prices, and more quickly free up much needed yard and storage space at various city facilities,” said Basiden. Nacogdoches Police cars have gone to Miami, Florida, and landfill equipment to Waubay, South Dakota. One Canadian buyer, and his accomplice, drove two 1997 model garbage trucks back to St. John’s, Newfoundland – a trip of over 3,000 miles ending with a 13-hour ferry ride. It is important to note that not everything the City puts on GovDeals has to cross state lines. Residents have bought things like cars, bicycles, pickup trucks, chairs, and an excavator over the past three years. Citizens are encouraged to visit the City’s website at www.ci.nacogdoches.tx.us to check the surplus offerings by clicking on the GovDeals link on the lower left hand side of the page. For more information on the City’s Million Dollar Man or our surplus sales program contact Purchasing Manager Gary Baisden, at 936-559-2528 or baisdeng@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us.
