Quincy A Quincy Park District employee’s purchase of two cars at a surplus property sale in June sparked controversy, especially after the employee advertised the cars for sale for more than ten times the amount he paid.
At its meeting on July 9, the Park Board decided to update its operating manual to forbid future employee participation in surplus property auctions.
Nonetheless, an examination of surplus sales over the previous seven years reveals that Park District staff members haven’t typically used them to profit from resales.
According to Rome Frericks, executive director of the Park District, excess sales happen anytime products have reached the end of their typical lifespan. According to the meeting packet for the Quincy Park Board on April 9, this is typically the consequence of planned equipment replacements where trade-in is not feasible. There aren’t many sales every day.
The Park District Director of Business Services, Brian Earnest, clarified that the sales are promoted for two days in the Herald Whig.
By June 2023, the Herald-Whig had dropped to less than 6,000 postal subscribers on five publishing days, according to U.S. Postal Service data.
According to Frericks, sealed bids are used for all equipment. If they so wish, bidders are permitted to attend the bid opening.
April saw the most recent excess sale. David Morgan, the director of golf, bought a 2010 Ford F-150 extended cab 4 4 and a 2007 Dodge 2500 4 4. Both cars only got two bids, and he paid $503 for each. The 2007 Dodge’s losing bid was $261, and the 2010 Ford’s was $501.
The 1997 Ford F-150, which sold for $501 after two bids, and the playground equipment, which went for $6,101 after two bids, were the other goods in the surplus sale.
Following his acquisition, Morgan put them up for sale on Facebook Marketplace, asking $5,000 and $8,000, respectively.
There was no information available regarding the trucks’ conditions at the time of sale or any alterations or upgrades made to the vehicle prior to its listing on Facebook Marketplace.
Some individuals who voiced their opinions on social media believed that Morgan’s job with the Park District gave him an advantage over the general population. Additionally, several questioned if advertising the excess auction in other media could have increased its revenue.
Morgan declined to comment for this story when contacted.
Over the last seven years, there have been six surplus sales, selling a total of 26 items. They sold playground equipment, yard tools, trucks, and boats. Some of the goods received up to five bids, while half only received one.
Six previous surplus sale listings:
April of 2025
- 2007 Dodge 2500 4 4, 2 Bids, sold for $503
- 2010 Ford F-150 extended cab 4 4, 2 Bids, sold for $503
- 1997 Ford F-150 2 Bids, sold for $501
- Playground equipment at Johnson Park, 2 Bids, sold for $6,101
November of 2024
- 20-foot Brunswick Marine 191 Fish & Ski Boat, 1 Bid, sold for $100
October 2023
- Boat House located at Art Keller Marina, walkway, 4 spud poles, metal roof and 30 boat slips, 1 Bid, sold for $756
- 31-foot-long aluminum walkway 35 width, 5 Bids, sold for $800
- 17-foot-long aluminum walkway 36 width, 3 Bids, sold for $306
- 32-foot-long galvanized walkway 47 width, 4 Bids, sold for $400
- 2011 JLG T350 gas powered lift, 264hrs, 4 Bids, sold for $6,100
- Playworld systems playground located on Quinsippi Island, 2 Bids, sold for $9,602
December of 2022
- Structure located at levy space #10 w/40 walkway, 4 spud poles, metal roof and approximately 1,950 square foot dock, 1 Bid, sold for $250
December of 2021
- 2012 Quench Buggy Drinking Water Trailer, 1 Bid, sold for $3,000
- Lenane Park Park Sign, 1 Bid, sold for $10
July of 2018
- 2006 GMC Sierra 4 2 Pickup, 1 Bid, sold for $150
- 2006 Dodge Dakota 4 4, 1 Bid, sold for $50
- 2003 Ford Taurus, 3 Bids, sold for $750
- 2003 Ford F250 4 2, 1 Bid, sold for $150
- 2003 Jiant Vac PTO Blower, 1 Bid, sold for $50
- 2005 Jiant Vac PTO Blower, 1 Bid, sold for $100
- 1990 Maxi Dump Trailer with 2005 Leaf Vac, 2 Bids, sold for $350
- 1990 Maxi Dump Trailer, 2 Bids, sold for $200
- Steel frame wood plank 5 Tier Bleachers, No Bid
- Steel frame steel plank 5 Tier Bleacher, 1 Bid, sold for $150
- Steel frame wood plank 3 Tier Bleacher, No Bid
- Meeco Floating Dock, 1 Bid, sold for $1
- Dock Frame 9 x 38 , 1 Bid, sold for $1
- Cushman Truckster, 1 Bid, sold for $100
Who Purchases the Goods:
In the last seven years, 16 different purchasers have purchased 26 different goods. Seven purchasers bought two or more things, while the majority only bought one. Of the 16 purchasers, just three are connected to the Park District, and they have made a total of five transactions.
Morgan is one of them. In the July 2018 sale, Park District technician Ray Gallaher paid $150 for the 2006 GMC Sierra 4 2 Pickup and $50 for the 2006 Dodge Dakota 4 4. In the July 2018 surplus sale, Shawn Altgilbers, a former Park District union worker, paid $150 for the 2003 Ford F240 4 2.
A rule that forbids Quincy Park District workers and their immediate relatives from bidding on surplus sale items was added to the Park Board’s operating procedures handbook after a vote on July 9. The adjustment was changed by the board to also bar commissioners from placing bids on things up for auction.
We took that action merely to exclude any possibility of improper behavior, stated Mark Philpot, the president of the Quincy Park Board. We want to ensure that government is open and transparent in the future.
Philpot added that the operations team handles all of the information on the winner of the bidding process and does not notify the Park Board after authorizing the surplus sale. Philpot hinted at a potential future redesign of the procedure.
According to Philpot, we are all just ordinary members of the community. I would like to remind everyone that Illinois park district commissioners are not paid, thus we want to keep everything running smoothly. Serving our community and assisting our neighbors are the advantages.
