From autos to electronics and push mower to power tools, the city of Oak Harbor, Island County, Oak Harbor School District, Island Transit and North Whidbey Fire and Rescue are teaming up to auction off a myriad of surplus equipment at the annual city-wide auction, Saturday, April 4.

“By joining forces, we get an auctioneer at a lower rate and we all save,” said Sandra Place, Oak Harbor’s equipment and purchasing coordinator.

This year’s auction is organized by Harold Mather of Mather Auctioneers Inc., Place said.

Mather will conduct the auction — as he has in years past — from the back of a pickup truck, as he makes his way through the auction goods, which will be on display at the Oak Harbor Public Works building.

“It’s just a fun day,” Place said of the sale, which will happen rain or shine.

The event historically draws between 300 and 400 people, she said.

This year, more than 30 vehicles will pass over the auction block, including two electric cars.

“Those were real lemons,” Place said of the small cars that were in constant need of repair.

In the past, cars and trucks have sold as low as $300 and as high as $4,000.

“It all depends on the bidder,” she said. “It’ll be interesting to see how the economy affects this year’s auction.”

Proceeds from the auction will go to the department the item came from.

Place said the auction is a “last resort,” intended to find a home for every last piece of surplus.

“As long as they sell,” she said, “we don’t have to dispose of them.”

Place invites the community to preview the auction items and register for the event starting 8:00 Saturday morning. Auction begins at 10 a.m. For more information, call Sandra Place at 360-279-4757, or email splace@oakhorbor.org.

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