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JOINT PUBLIC SURPLUS AND SEIZED PROPERTY AUCTION HAULS IN OVER 40K INSPITE RECORD LOW ATTENDANCE

04/11/2017

 Auction Crowd Picture.jpg

Pictured Above: Auction-goers at joint public surplus and seized property auction at 2901 Pines Mall Drive, Pine Bluff, AR on Saturday, April 8th, 2017 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT

Major Lafayette Woods, Jr.

Operation Commander/Public Information Officer

870.541.5351-OFFICE/870.329.5652-CELL

Email: lafayette.woods@jeffcoso.org

JOINT PUBLIC SURPLUS AND SEIZED PROPERTY AUCTION HAULS IN OVER 40K INSPITE RECORD LOW ATTENDANCE: Jefferson County, Arkansas – April 11th, 2017 - Saturday, April 8th, 2017 Tracy Robinson Auctioneers in conjunction with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Tri-County Drug Task Force, Jefferson County Road Department, and Pine Bluff Police Department (Vice & Narcotics Division) held a public surplus and seized property auction at former Wal-Mart store parking lot located at 2901 Pines Mall Drive in Pine Bluff, Arkansas following the close of part one of the auction held at the Jefferson County Road Department located at 3304 W. 7th Avenue in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where surplus heavy machinery and tools were offered to the highest bidder. 

This year’s auction was the first of its kind since last year’s auction held on September 20th, 2014, which grossed $86,878.50 in bids from citizens. Also in 2014, months prior, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office held another public seized property auction exclusively for the sell weapons on Saturday, March 22, 2014. That auction grossed a record $125,775.00 as well as a sufficient increase in attendance from hopeful bidders that traveled far and near. 

Bidding opened at the usual at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 8th, 2017 at the Jefferson County Road Department with bids being placed on property ranging from surplus heavy equipment and tools including a heavy lifting crane. However, there seemed to be much confusion among auction host and the public as to where exactly the auction would begin.

“Our initial public notice accompanied by social media and commercial advertisement stated that the auction would begin at the former Wal-Mart store parking lot located at 2901 Pines Mall Drive in Pine Bluff, Arkansas at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 8th, 2017. However, I received a late notice that some of the heavy equipment being offered for sell by our County Road Department was inoperable and unable to be moved or transported to the Pines Mall. Our auctioneer updated his website to reflect that the County Road Department items would be offered for sell beginning at 9:00 a.m. followed by the remaining items being offered by other auction partners at the Pines Mall. I would have to attribute the low attendance to miscommunication but overall we were able to make some money and that I won’t complain about, said Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Spokesman and Operations Commander, Major Lafayette Woods, Jr.”

Proceeds from the surplus and seized property auction by other partners were not immediately made available. All monies generated from the public auction shall be held in a separate account for a period of three (3) months from the date of the public auction, and such funds shall be available to be reimbursed to any owners of the aforementioned items upon providing adequate proof of ownership. At the conclusion of the three-month period, all remaining funds shall then be conveyed into the Jefferson County General Fund and the sheriff’s office operating budget thereafter pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated A.C.A § 5-5-101.

“The overall gross sum of $42,232.00 collected by the Jefferson County Sheriff’ Office and Tri-County Drug Task Force from this year’s auction was 69.1% less than last year’s auction and with only $33,157.00 in gross proceeds being attributed to the sheriff’s office. This was 51.9% less than what was collected during a similar auction in 2014. All in all, it was a successful auction because we made money and a number of bidders walked away happy, said Major Woods.”