Long shutters 29-year auction business

U.S. Rep. Billy Long has quieted auctioneer Billy Long.

Long closed the doors of his 29-year-old business, Billy Long Auctions LLC, before he was sworn in Jan. 5 as House representative of the 7th District, succeeding veteran Roy Blunt.

Bob Kollmeier, the former vice president and longtime auctioneer at Billy Long Auctions, said Long has ceased operations and sold the company’s assets to competitors.

“I bought some of the computer systems,” said Kollmeier, who will perform a limited number of auctions as Bob Kollmeier Auctions LLC, “but as far as buying the company, I did not.”

Springfield-based Diamond S Auctions LLC purchased a truck and trailer from Billy Long Auctions, Kollmeier said.

House rules prohibit representatives from owning a business while serving. Item 3 of the U.S. House of Representatives Code of Official Conduct says, “A member, officer or employee of the House of Representatives shall receive no compensation nor shall he permit any compensation to accrue to his beneficial interest from any source, the receipt of which would occur by virtue of influence improperly exerted from his position in the Congress.”

“We consulted with the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, also known as the ethics committee, on what I had to do with my business before I was sworn in,” Long said via e-mail. “According to them, we couldn’t sell the name Billy Long Auctions LLC. The chattel property was sold off piecemeal to various individuals.”

Kollmeier indicated that Long could reopen the business when his service is up in the House. For now, Long said he’s focusing on his new job.

“I gave up a lot to be here, and I have hit the ground running,” Long said. “I haven’t thought about post-Congress, but I wouldn’t rule anything out.”

In a separate action, Long named Kollmeier his agriculture director, a consulting position that Don Lucietta held for U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt when he was 7th District representative.

Kollmeier said he made a living in agriculture from 1979 to the early 1990s. “I was a grain farmer – I raised soybeans, wheat and milo in Dade and Jasper counties. I’ve always loved agriculture,” he said.

Kollmeier is paid $65,000 as the district’s agriculture director – the same salary his predecessor earned – according to Long’s spokesman, Bret Funk.

“Bob has a long history in agriculture and has assumed Don’s responsibilities in my new congressional offices,” Long said. “Having someone focused on agriculture is important to the 7th District.”[[In-content Ad]]