Philadelphia Eagles Plow Truck to Cradle of Liberty History: Behind the Scenes with West Norriton Township, Jason Bobst

Hi Jason,

How are you?

Doing great, how are you?

Good. Good. Very good.

Thank you very much for doing this interview today. Can you start us off, give us an introduction of yourself and what you do here at West Norriton?

Sure. So my name is Jason Bobst. I'm the Township Manager here for West Norriton Township here in Montgomery County, and pretty much I serve as the Chief Executive Officer on behalf of the five elected Board of Commissioners here in the town. I

So what does your day to day look like? What, what's involved with all of that?

I wish there would be a typical day, but um, it's not the typical nine to five that you're probably used to in the corporate Um, You know, we have a pretty uh, eclectic Services that we provide here in the township. Uh, One of the unique things that we do is we actually own a municipal golf course, which most municipalities don't. So we do have a publicly owned golf course that we operate. Not something that I was expecting when I came here in 2012, but it's something that I've learned and come to Um, But we have our finance department. We have, you know, police and fire. Uh, Parks and Recreation. So we have a lot of the quality of life things that we, that we do. Code enforcement, public um, so not every day is the same, which is uh, but you have your stressful days and your fun days um, and I think that's what keeps it interesting and what makes municipal government, you know, a uh, position that you can get into just because of the variety that you face every day.

What brought you to be township manager?

Uh, Pretty much by accident. So I graduated college. I worked in the nonprofit sector for in transportation Uh, We opened up a field office in Pottstown where it's actually headquartered. Um, And I got to you know, the people that were elected there, the uh, the city manager at the uh, was a man named Ray Lopez, uh, and the chamber of commerce president and the assistant manager's job opened up in the town and it was kind of in line with what I was doing in the private sector with, uh, transportation related items. So. Got hired as the assistant manager at the age of 25 and became the borough manager at the age of 27. Not what I was expecting to get into at such a young age, um, the, the one connection with the Municibid is that Greg Berry, the founder of Municibid, was one of my council members at the time when I was in Pottstown. So I got to see the creation of how Municibid came about and, you know, Greg's brainchild that came out of this. uh, so that in 2012, I came down to West Norriton. And I've been here ever since.

And Greg says hi, like he was really excited.

awesome. I love I love Greg. So sure.

But yeah, so he was like, oh, Jason's great. Very cool. Can you tell us about something unique? About West Norriton Township and like, maybe some fun facts about the township.

I think uh, is our municipal owned golf course. So in the early to prior 1930s, it was a horse farm called the Montgomery County Riding Academy. And then the owners of the course were the Evans family. Uh, And they hired an architect by the name of Donald Ross to design our golf course. If anyone knows the golf game, Donald Ross is probably one of the most premier golf architects from the 1920s and 1930s. He designed Aronimink, Pinehurst, some of the bigger courses that are country clubs across the country. So we have a unique opportunity where we own one of the few publicly owned Donald Roth designed golf courses. So we get people from across the country that come in here to play the Uh, And our superintendent and our staff out there do a really good job of keeping it in its design. Um, The uniqueness of our township is that we were originally Norriton Township and we split in 1909 to become East Norriton Township and West Norriton Township. Uh, And the center of our town was a place called Jeffersonville. Um, So if anyone knows history and how politics of the 1700s and 1800s uh, supporters of certain political ideologies focused in town centers. And our town was called Jeffersonville because a lot of the people who supported Thomas Jefferson lived in our area. So that's how we got the name Jeffersonville, which is kind of awesome being, you know, close to Philadelphia and, you know, like the colonial era and when it used to be the nation's capital. um, that's another one of our really cool claim to uh, here in Montgomery County.

Yeah, it's been really cool as we've been driving through, like, Plymouth Lane and, like, Colonial, like,

I mean, we're literally,

awesome,

we used to call ourselves the gateway to Valley Forge because we literally share a border with upper township where Valley Forge National Park is. So George Washington camped out a couple hundred yards from our township border. So it's, it's, it's really neat to be in this kind of like cradle of liberty area uh, with, you know, everything we have in the history that we have here.

Yeah, very rich with the history. It's been really cool, and, like, the, like, original buildings that are here,

Yeah, they do a lot of real good jobs with the architecture here, preserving, you know, the history and, you know, understanding where we came from and, you know, how this country developed and developed not too far from here. So

So, like, this township's very rich. What do you love the most?

the people, I mean, this is one of the few talent places where it actually truly is a community. We care about each other. They look out for each other. There is a sense of family here when you live here and you here. Uh, I had the, the fortunate chance to work here and also live here. So I see both sides of that and it's, it's true. I mean, I can't think of a better place to uh, when it comes to the people that live here and the people that work here.

We come from, like, a small town, too, up in North Idaho, and just that real community,

Yeah, and that, and that's what it is here. I mean, it's, you know, there's, it's supportive, it's open, it's inclusive. There's a lot of diversity here. Um, I mean, we're a town of just under six, just over 16,000 people, and you kind of get to know everybody. Because it's a very small town feel. I mean, we have a great park system where, you know, all of our families congregate and things like that. um, it's definitely a unique place to live, and that's why we like living. I think people choose to live in West Norriton.

Yeah, knowing your neighbors.

Exactly.

Why do you think it's important for municipalities to sell their government surplus?

Sure. I mean, I think it's being good stewards of the taxpayer dollars. I mean, you know, I equate this to almost being like a parent and you're, and you know, the residents are parents and we get an allowance and we admit you got to make sure you spend your money the right Um, And when our items come to their end, their useful uh, we want to make sure we get the best return from it and using, you know, Municibid and, you know, things, you know, the other sites that are out there, it gets your biggest return on your, in your um, Um, Because it expands a wider variety, it gets you more people. I mean, we just sold a on Municibid to someone in Rhode Island. Uh, So we wouldn't get that through the traditional paper process, you know, the traditional bid Um, So it definitely has opened up a new horizons for us in regards to putting government surplus back in there. Cause in the grand scheme of things, our items, we're not selling junk in a way. We're selling good quality items that some people can put to use for a second time or a third time. Um, So we like that idea and the return that we get through the bid process through with like companies like Municibid um, we get a bigger return on our value because it's not a sealed bid process. It's competitive. It's a back Um, And it really kind of drives up the values for us.

What challenges did you face before with selling your government surplus prior to using Municibid?

I think it was a smaller audience. So when you use the traditional, you know, paper newspaper process. It's only going to go to those who read it. I mean, technology has advanced far enough that, you know, you can pull up a website on your, on your iPhone. There's apps, there's all things that you can Um, That gives you more of a audience than what we, we, we previously had. Like I said, previously, we've sold items to people in Canada and all over the place, just because the internet's a great thing because it connects you to more people than the traditional newspaper process would.

Yeah, it's amazing how far bidders are willing to travel for the right item.

Yeah. And especially with, when it comes to government surplus items, I think And I like the interaction with it too, because if people ask questions, you can answer them immediately. If they ask for additional pictures on something that's listed, or, you know, have a question on hours on, on a mower or a golf cart or, you know, truck. You had that more immediate connection with them to answer those questions. And I think it gives them more peace of mind than going in blind on a sealed bid process through the newspaper process.

Right, and with the sealed bid process, like, were they able to inspect items in

they were like, we'd uh, you know, be available on Monday through Friday, kind of like during the working hours. um, I think with being able to post pictures and videos and things like that, it gives them at least a little bit more of a immediate hands on approach or Um, And then they can follow up with, you know, The records that we keep and things like that, that's a little bit more, I guess, peace of mind for them in that process.

Absolutely. Yeah, we've heard that from our bidders, how impressed they are with the maintenance and the records that goes into upkeep on the vehicles and the equipment.

Exactly. Yeah.

What reservations or hesitations did you have about trying Municibid?

I think, I mean, I've been with, we've been using Municibid for as long as I can remember. So at least 12 years now. So in the beginning, I mean, it was a new product. I mean, there's going to be hiccups and things like that, but I think the initial hesitation is actually people falling through on the bids. We did have some times where people would back out the last minute or make their bid and not come pick up the items. So you go to the second lowest bidder, you know, but. That was more the hesitation with, you know, do they list our right phone numbers? Did they list the right email addresses, things like Um, But those kinks work themselves out and now it's, I wouldn't use any other system.

That's wonderful to hear. Can you think of what your best experience with using Municibid has been?

I think one of the best experiences that we get a lot of repeat customers. I mean, there's people that will wait to see when West Norriton puts equipment up because the reputation we have of not selling junk and they get, they know The big thing I always remember back in the day when the Ford Crown Victorias were still, you know, in the fleets, a lot of old taxi companies would come in and buy them because the miles were Um, We would have people calling us, asking us, when are you going to put up a Crown Vic next, because they wanted to bid on our items. um, we, we, we built those kind of relationships with um, and it's nice to see the stories of what happens with our equipment when it goes somewhere Um, Like we sold a dump truck a couple years ago to a landscaper and it became a plow truck for the Philadelphia Eagles parking lot. And it was pretty cool being able to go down to the Eagles game and point to that truck and say, I remember that truck when that was our assault truck. um, it's nice how they get repurposed and be able to see that.

Yeah, that's cool. And like the history following, like the vehicles. Have you had any experiences with Municibid that made you laugh? 

I'm trying to remember because I mean, there's, I mean, there's been a couple of laughable experiences just like in interacting with people. Like we had one person come in and they said, well, you take cash. We said, yeah, he, he walked in with a stack of dollar bills. Like they, it just, the funny how people pay for things or tell you what they're going to use the equipment for. Like we had someone that bought an ambulance and turned it into a tailgate uh, things like that. And I think there's actually one I'm in a spin right now. It's the Patriots ambulance they, uh, up in Boston somewhere. So those are the kinds of funny stories, like what people are going to do with it. Uh, Are you asking like, what are you, or the question coming from us is what are you going to do with this? Because like we'll sell random things sometimes, like a slate of old computers. What are you going to do with these? Oh, my kid likes to play with them. Like, so it's that kind of cool stuff getting an understanding what the repurposing and that kind of stuff is. So, I

What do you think the strangest or maybe like most unusual item is that you've sold on Municibid?

I mean, for us, it's probably a lot of the old golf equipment that we had from the golf course, like old mowers and things like that, that probably you wouldn't use again. But people, they like that kind of stuff. People like. I, I have a, you know, a new fondness for people who do small engine repair and how they like to tinker with the old stuff that we um, and put it to use, but yeah, that's the kind of the, the stuff that it's pretty cool.

Yeah, I'm constantly impressed with our bidders and how creative they are.

they they definitely can get creative. I know that's, that's why I like, and they, you know, and sometimes they can get lots of stuff at a, at a cheap price. So that's, that's the, the, with using miss a bit.

What impact has Municibid made for your community, your staff here, and your residents?

Well, one, I think it's the, the money we get back on the item. I mean, we, here we have a vehicle replacement fund, so when we sell a vehicle, any proceeds from that go back into the fund to help buy the new vehicle. And, you know, when we were seeing, you know, back in the early 2000s, getting $1, 800 for an old police car, we're getting $9,000, $10,000 now in resale. So that's really helping us. Less than the financial burden on our residents when it comes to replacing equipment because of that resale value that we're getting with helping us with the new upfitting costs, because, you know, technology changes, led lights and things like that for a police car. So they get a little bit more expensive. But that margin that we're getting on the resale is really helping us kind of offset those costs and, you know, helping our residents out. So we don't have to raise taxes to maintain our vehicle fleets anymore. So

Yeah. That's awesome. Is there any particular item that sticks out in your mind that you were surprised that you were able to sell it for that much?

Yeah, we so we bought a lot of Front end loader from a Plymouth township. There was an intermissible Uh, We bought it for $5,000. It's probably like an 80 something, you know, we in turn used it, got out what we need from it, and then we sold it for $10,000 on Municibid. So it's, it's just, it's just crazy how there's a market for everything and people buy that. Like what we thought was going to be, you know, if we make our money back, ended up doubling what we made on it on the initial purchase of the sale, purchase of itself.

That's incredible. Would you recommend Municibid to other municipalities, and if so, why?

Absolutely. I mean, government, there's, there's, you know, we, we have to follow certain rules and regulations when it comes to how we operate. You know, Municibid really makes it easier for us in that one sector where we have to deal with surplus and, you know, you know, our fleet management and things like that, because it's simple. And it's, if anyone can use a word document, anyone can use Municibid because that's just how easy it is to do that. But it also gives you a wider audience. Like I said And you know, you're, if you want to be good stewards of the taxpayer dollars, you want to do what's best for your taxpayers and that. And Muncibid hands down is probably one of the best things that we ever came across our, our desk.

Thank you. That's awesome to hear. I'm very glad. What advice would you give to other municipalities looking to sell their surplus and maybe they've never used an online auction?

Yeah, I mean, I think the best thing for any first time user is give as much detail as possible. You know, that's the one thing we noticed was the more detail you give, I think that's the more bidders that you'll get because you're kind of being transparent and open with what you're putting. Um, Cause I'll see some listings from other municipalities that don't give a lot of detail, but then you get into that engaging, the back and forth, the questioning. And some people can view that as an annoyance. Um, So what we've learned is as many pictures as possible, try to think like you are the bidder and what you're going to list and what questions you can anticipate. But other than that, I mean, it's a no brainer to use in my opinion.

Thank you. That's fantastic. Is there anything else you'd like to share about West Norriton or like about your experience with Muncibid?

No, I mean, I remember when Greg first started talking about this when he was a councilman, I think this was like early 2007, 2008. Um, And just watching how it's grown has been incredible. I mean, I have friends that work in this whole government in other states that, you know, we turn them on to Municibid and they love it. But it also We like it too, because we also bid on Municibid. There are times where we'll go in there and buy surplus equipment from other municipalities that we see, or school districts or things like that, that Um, We bought leaf boxes, you know, which are hard to find, but central Pennsylvania, we went out there and find a leaf box on there, went and bought it and picked Um, So that's the uniqueness of it. You can be the seller, but also be the buyer too, in the, in these circumstances. um, it also helps, we, we've made a lot of connections on municipalities through this process too. With word of mouth and things like that. So it also helps us build connections for other services that we do intermissible agreements and, you know, things like um, that maybe mislead wouldn't have gotten this before.

That's really cool. Building like network of municipalities.

it helps, especially. Every municipality is different. Everyone has a different structure of government. Every size there's municipalities in Pennsylvania. Someone just have 600 residents. Then you have people placed like upper Darby township as a hundred thousand Um, So there's a wide variety of what you deal with in the, in the sector. So the one thing that is with Municibid, it kind of connects everybody on the same level, whether you're a 600 person borough or you know, the city of Philadelphia, there's, we are all treated equal and viewed equally in the same, you know, light and when it comes to Municibid. So.

That's fantastic. Yeah. Thank you so much.

Anytime now. I it. Um, Anything I can do to help spread the word about Municibid, I'll, I'll do it because we've reaped, you know, a lot of positive from using Municibid since we went with it. So,

Do you happen to know by chance like over the years that you've used Municibid Like how much you've sold in items

Ooh, I mean, I bet you we price has sold in value close to about half a million dollars. And I could probably tell you if we went to traditional process, it might've been about 125 at that. So just that, you know, That alone is, you know, a huge, huge budgetary impact on a positive side for us. So

Yeah, big

yeah,

I'm sure all the taxpayers here greatly appreciate it.

they do, um, but you don't have to raise taxes. Everybody's happy. So

Yeah, thank you so much Jason

anytime. No, I appreciate it. This was awesome.