Municipal property going on the auction block

SPARTA-Area residents will soon have the opportunity to purchase real life versions of their childhood toys. Fire trucks, buses, police cruisers and paving equipment will all be auctioned off on Saturday morning at the Sparta Department of Public Works building. The auction, hosted by Sparta Township, consists of equipment and property from several county municipalities. "Right now we have over 100 vehicles," said Sparta DPW Fleet Manager Jim Zepp, whose department is overseeing the event. "We've been doing this auction for several years, and it has grown every year." This year will be the first in which the auction will be held on a weekend and officials expect a larger turnout than in previous years.According to Zepp, buyers in the past have included movie production crews, car collectors and sellers from throughout the country. "Virtually everything goes, because there are no minimum or reserve prices set on the merchandise," said Zepp. All interested buyers should bring cash, or a certified or bank check to pay for their purchase and must be able to remove their purchase from the DPW grounds by the end of the day. Residents are invited to attend the event, which is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday Oct. 16. The lot will be open to preview the automobiles from 8 to 10 a.m.