Columbus city leaders hope to use eBay sale to pay for ice rescue equipment

COLUMBUS, Ind. (WISH) - Money is tight everywhere these days, especially when it comes to city budgets.

So when the Columbus Fire Department wanted more equipment, the city's mayor got creative.

Fire crews only have one ice surface rescue unit for the entire city of Columbus. The fire chief recognized a need for more this year.

“We're just trying to fill a void. They have swift water rescue, they have dive teams, but we didn’t feel like we adequately addressed the ice surface rescue,” Chief Dan Cleland said.

Especially after a 16-year-old broke through the ice on Terrace Lake in December 2010 and died.

“It’s just a matter of minutes if someone has broken through the ice, for someone to get to him. So there's a combination of flotation suits, rescue ropes and water crafts," Cleland said.

But this equipment wasn't in this year's budget. The city’s mayor, Kristen Brown, decided to put her city-owned vehicle up for sale on eBay.

The first bid is set for $21,500 - the cost of the ice rescue equipment.

“It just represented a quick way for us to raise the money, and not have to go through additional appropriations,” Brown said.

The city typically disposes of equipment through auctions, but the mayor said she’s hoping this way brings in more money.

The eBay auction closes Wednesday. Click here to view the auction page.