By EDWARD HUSAR

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

The city of Quincy is cleaning out its closets and garages, and will sell a wide array of items at a public auction Saturday.

The event begins at 1 p.m. at the Central Services Department, 2020 Jennifer Lane. The city will sell 18 vehicles along with assorted tools, furniture, office equipment and miscellaneous items.

"We've got all kinds of goodies," said Dave Hummel, Quincy's director of purchasing, who is coordinating the sale.

All proceeds from the auction will go into the city's general fund for city operations.

The city schedules auctions periodically to get rid of items that are no longer needed or have been replaced with newer equipment.

"It's been about three years since we've had one," Hummel said.

All the vehicles to be sold have been replaced in recent years with newer models and "have a lot of mileage on them," Hummel said.

In many cases, he said, the city opts not to trade in its old trucks as newer models are being bought.

"The trucks aren't worth anything on a trade-in, so a lot of times we'll just keep them and sell them at auction," Hummel said. "We can get more money selling them at the auction than we can as a trade-in."

Available vehicles include a 1993 Chevy one-ton truck with a snowplow attached with 170,000 miles on it, a 1995 Eldorado 16-passenger bus with 350,000 miles, a 1992 GMC one-ton dump truck with 79,000 miles, a 1988 Ford Crown Victoria car with 112,000 miles, several pickup trucks, and some other large and small vehicles.

"Most of them run and drive," Hummel said.

One 1996 Ford Ranger is wrecked and no longer has a transmission. But Hummel said the vehicle may be of value "if somebody wants it for some parts."

Prospective buyers will be able to look over the vehicles and other items at the Central Services Department from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.

"Our mechanics will be on hand there to answer any questions," Hummel said.

In addition to the vehicles, the city will be selling a wide range of other items. Some examples include a two-ton overhead chain hoist, two gas-powered mosquito sprayers, a chain saw, a wheeled cart, a weight bench, 17 telephones, an electrical panel, a propane tank, several color printers, copiers, DVD players and VCRs.

Furniture items include 10 metal headboards and footboards for single beds that were used by the Fire Department, five bar stools that were used at the Quincy Regional Airport's restaurant, 34 wooden chairs, five office chairs, and an executive desk and credenza.

"A lot of this stuff is still good," Hummel said. "People can get a good bargain, and the city can make a little money off of it."

-- ehusar@whig.com/221-3378