Lawton Outsourced A National Auction Firm And Local Folks Aren’t Happy

For a city that never misses a chance to remind everyone to shop local, support local, stay local, and do everything short of pledging allegiance to local, Lawton sure likes to wander when it’s time to spend its own City money.

That’s the thing folks keep shaking their heads over the weekend.

The City of Lawton put a bunch of equipment and old vehicles up for auction, and instead of using any of the local auction companies right here in Lawton and Comanche County, they went with a national outfit called Purple Wave.

The link’s floating around everywhere. People click it, see the bright purple branding, and immediately ask the same question. Why them?

Why Lawton Skipped Local Auction Companies

And honestly, it’s hard not to wonder the same thing. We’ve got enough local auction companies to fill a phonebook if those still existed. These are people who actually live here. They run their businesses here. They sponsor the baseball teams and buy the fundraiser candles from your niece. They know half the bidders by name. But when the City of Lawton decides to unload equipment, suddenly the locals are nowhere near the conversation.

It’s like they only believe in keeping money in town when it’s our money. When it’s the city’s cash, they feel a bit different. This auction thing is just the latest example of that. The City of Lawton always pays our tax dollars out to different cities and states, very rarely ever here with local businesses. Not to say never, but rarely.

And it’s not just the auction company choice that’s got people stirred up. It’s the gear itself.

The Surprising Condition Of The Equipment

Some of the stuff on the list looks… surprisingly fresh. I mean, you expect a city surplus auction to be full of busted lawn equipment and trucks that need a priest more than a mechanic. But this one has a few pieces of construction equipment that look way nicer than anything I’ve ever seen the city use. Folks online are looking at these photos thinking, why in the world are we selling this?

Nobody really knows, and that silence is what keeps fueling frustrations. Lawton has this long-running habit of making decisions like they’re afraid someone might ask a follow-up question. Then they’re shocked when people get suspicious. Imagine that.

Residents Want Transparency, Not Surprises

It’s not unreasonable for people to want clarity. If the city wants everyone to cheer for local business, then maybe the city should model that same energy. If the equipment really needed to be sold, fine. But why not give the hometown companies first shot? Why not explain why some of the machines look barely broken in?

When you preach local support as loud as Lawton does, you can’t act confused when folks notice you’re not practicing it.