City of Poulsbo selling supplies, furniture to clear old offices

POULSBO — If the sleek campus at 200 NE Moe Street is the city’s new home, the old, ramshackle city hall on Jensen Way is its garage.

At least it’s being used as one for now.

Piles of office supplies and clusters of desks and storage fixtures sit in the building, left behind when employees moved to their new offices up the hill. Nearly 300 items were declared surplus during the move.

The city’s Finance Department plans to sell what it can, donate some things to area non-profits and hold a garage sale for the public before offering what’s left at no cost.

What isn’t scavenged by bargain hunters will likely be donated to Goodwill, or taken to a dump, said Accounting Manager Jana McQuade. She’s hoping very little of the surplus will end up in the trash and that most goes to those who can put it to use.

“I’m going to be positive, we’re going to get rid of it all,” she said.

The city typically lists an annual surplus. Any items sold or donated must be approved by the City Council. The council approved the sale of the items in the old city hall on Wednesday.

Finance Director Debbie Booher said she’s not sure how much the city could make on the sale, but any amount could be useful.

“Five dollars is five dollars, five dollars pays for a box of pens,” Booher said.

The city will take offers on all sorts of items still cluttering the old city hall: desks and chairs, cabinets and bookcases, tables, printers and a collection of computer supplies, only some of which still work. There is a projector screen, kitchen supplies and dozens of file organizers from the days before digital documentation.

The city paid about $300,000 to buy new furniture and fixtures and have them delivered and installed in its new building. Employees recycled some of the items from their old offices. Booher brought her 25-year-old desk chair with her, along with some shelving and a tack board.

McQuade said the new furniture is standardized throughout city hall, an aesthetic upgrade from the mixed collection of desks and chairs employees formerly used.

The city is considering tearing down the old city hall to increase the worth of its land for sale. The aged building used to serve as a fire station and a jail. It’s comprised of mishmashed sections and cracked walls, and would likely be torn down by a purchaser anyway.

To view a list of items for sale by the city, check Craigslist.com or call (360) 779-3901.

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