Mineral County auto auction slated for Saturday
The Sheriff’s Public Auction on March 5th on the Mineral County Courthouse steps will not have any of these vehicles in the inventory. The paper trail for legal sale of anything in this impound lot east of the airport is ongoing.
On Saturday, March 5 at 11 a.m. on the Mineral County Courthouse steps, there will be an auction of six vehicles, four of which are former patrol vehicles that were used until the new patrol units were purchased and placed into service last year.
There is also a 1995 Honda Accord and a 2000 Hyundai Sonata that will be placed on the auction block.
All of the vehicles will be sold ‘as is’ and the buyers will be responsible for their removal at the time of purchase. All vehicles can be inspected prior to the auction by appointment only, call Dawn at (406) 822-3537.
The vehicles being auctioned are not from the impound lot just east of the airport that have garnered much attention over the years. The auction will not offer the BMW convertible, trailers, or motorhome from the impound lot that have piqued Mineral County residents’ interest.
The reason is expressed by auctioneer Gordon Hendrick: “There is a tremendous amount of paperwork for each vehicle that needs to be completed. Locating the owner is a challenge especially if they are incarcerated or have passed away in another state. Tracking down ownership is just one of the multiple steps before it can be sold and then each rig has to go before a judge who gives authorization to sell.”
Hendrick, a former mayor of Superior and House District 14 Representative, continues his public service volunteering at the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney’s Office, stating, “I volunteered to the commissioners and sorta pushed my way into it as I’m tired of looking at them (impounded vehicles) like everyone else is.”
Debra Jackson, Deputy County Attorney, explained over the years there is little documentation showing how the vehicles were seized, and if there exists a legal or rightful owner or victim to the vehicle.
“If my plate were to be cleaned, and our office 100% caught up, I believe I could get the lion’s share of the paperwork completed in three to four weeks. That is 40 hours a week working only on the impounded vehicles”, she said. However, that is not going to happen because the County Attorney’s Office lost two employees and are now training their replacements.
“I’m not making any excuses whatsoever”, said Ellen Donohue, County Attorney. “We were already stretched thin and with new people on board we are just keeping our head above water as it is.”
Mineral County has more felonies in the court system than Sanders County, each with the same size staff.