Customers eager for the first crack at the city’s supply of abandoned bicycles and other unclaimed items lined up shortly before 8 a.m. Saturday at the usual place for the annual sale, the Perry Marketplace at the Raccoon River Valley Trail trailhead near Caboose Park in downtown Perry.
It took a heads-up shout from Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn a few minutes after 8 a.m. to bring the 20-some shoppers to understand that this year’s salesfloor was in the department’s recently constructed sally port on the west side of the Public Safety Building at 908 Willis Ave.
Customers rapidly assessed the 61 bikes and 115 other items, choosing the best and leaving the rest.
Proceeds from the sale are deposited into the city’s general fund for each department to use for unbudgeted expenditures, according to Perry Finance Officer Susie Moorhead.
