Dewey nets $186,000 from surplus auction

The long-awaited auction of Dewey Beach’s surplus military equipment netted just under $186,000, according to town officials.

Dewey Beach Town Manager Scott Koenig estimated up to 700 people attended the Sept. 14 auction conducted by Emmert Auction Associates at the town’s Cedar Grove Road storage.

Koenig said he is coordinating auction sale tags with items on the surplus military equipment inventory spreadsheet, marking all items sold individually or as a lot. A Hummer, two heavy safes at the West Rehoboth storage facility and equipment at firing ranges used by the police department were not sold, Koenig said.

In addition to surplus military equipment, Koenig said, town items such as signs and decorations were auctioned.

“The highest-value lifeguard stand went for $425,” he said. “A number of people were there just to buy lifeguard stands. There was a sentimental value.”

In September, Koenig said the preliminary unofficial gross proceeds from the auction were about $225,000, which he said would be reduced by the auctioneer’s percentage and other costs.

Proceeds from the sale of town equipment will be separated for general government use; proceeds from military equipment sales will be deposited to the police department restricted account and may be used to purchase supplies or equipment for the police department with town manager approval, Koenig said.