Catoosa County adjusts sale of equipment to school system

Catoosa County officials chose to save the school system $1,000 by selling piece of machinery at cost rather than making a profit.

During the March 6 Board of Commissioner’s meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Travis Barbee presented the commission with his plan to sell a Toro infield rake to Heritage High School for a slight profit.

“We are in the market for a new rake because the Toro rake we’re looking to get rid of, when I got here, it has sat mostly unused and it’s ineffective in what we need it to do,” Barbee said. “The school system said they could get use out of it. They wanted it, they offered us more than the trade-in value, and I looked as it as a win all the way around as we look to replace the piece of equipment.”

After a motion to approve was made and seconded, Commissioner Jim Cutler voiced concern over taking more money from the school system.

“Mr. Barbee, I appreciate the fact that you’re trying to make money for the county, but I feel just a little guilty taking money from the school system when we could just sell it at whatever the cost is,” Cutler said.

Barbee said a new machine of the same quality would run $12,000 to $13,000 brand new.

Chief Financial Officer and Interim County Manager Carl Henson said the trade-in value on the machine is around $5,000, but that the school system offered $6,000 for it.

Ultimately, the board unanimously approved selling the machine to Heritage for $5,000.