Wrecker services speak out in Boaz
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Under a lengthy ordinance proposed Monday night, Mayor Tim Walker said the four towing companies doing business within the city limits will be subject to annual inspections, must purchase annual permits, respond to towing requests within certain time parameters and agree to charge fees as prescribed in the ordinance.
City councilmen listened to concerns from Steve Allen, A&B Wrecker; David Sumners, B&D Wrecker; David Stephens, UAT; and Jeff Richards, Richards Towing. Most were concerned with the low towing rates, which some characterized ized as out of date and equal to what they received 12 to 14 years ago.
As proposed Monday, all wrecker companies would be placed on a rotation, and when summoned by police, should charge $75 per hour or $160 per hour if a large wrecker is required. Rates increase by $10 per hour if service is needed overnight.
If, for example, a vehicle must be removed from a ditch or wooded area requiring significantly more time and effort, wrecker operators may charge hourly rates for the additional time.
The ordinance also sets daily storage fees of $7.50 for cars and most other types of vehicles and $15 for each portion of a tractor-trailer.
Wrecker owners present agreed the storage fees cover the cost of land, insurance and security over stored cars.
Any vehicle abandoned at the wrecker lot may be sold after all legal issues have been addressed.
"I have a Rottweiler that likes to eat," joked Billy Sumners. "These prices have to be higher."
David Sumners told the council he was not out to gouge customers, but he and other operators have expenses to cover.
"We are all here in the same boat," said David Sumners. "We have all bought trucks over the last several years. By the time you pay your employees, buy oil and buy gas that's now well over $3 a gallon, it all adds up. Everything is going up in cost. These rates listed here are what we were getting 12 or 14 years ago."
Allen agreed, saying he preferred to see the city set a higher, flat fee, regardless of the time of day.
"The hourly rate is going to be hard to keep up with. I would be happy with getting $95 around the clock," Allen said. "When your rates get down real low, you usually get what you pay for."
Walker said he had polled surrounding cities and searched on the Internet to come up with suggested rates and policies.
Albertville, for example, has a contract with A&B Wrecker that comes up for renewal and other companies can bid for the contract every three years.
"We looked at this from several angles to make sure it was fair," Walker said. "This council is all about fairness. Hopefully all this will average out over time. You may have a car in the ravine which will cost more to get out, but maybe the next one you get will be the car right next to your business."
Allen also suggested simplifying the proposed three rotation lists given to dispatchers into two lists, one for situations towing passenger vehicles and another for removing heavy trucks, such as buses or tractor trailers.
"I think three rotations will be a headache for dispatch to keep up with. They should call the wrecker company and tell them what they have and they will know to bring what is needed. State troopers are real bad to call and request a particular truck and when I get there, it is not what I need," Allen said.
"When I need to go to the doctor, I don't tell him what medicines to give me. I prefer to tell him what's wrong and then have him decide what medicines to give me."
Walker said he and the council would take the suggestions and comments made during Monday's meeting, using them to "tweak" the proposed ordinance. An updated and corrected version would be sent to all wrecker company owners prior to the next meeting, he said.
Regardless of the ordinance, accident victims or others who need to have vehicles towed within the city limits may request a local company to do the work. The rotation schedule and fixed fees only apply to tow requests made by police or fire officials. http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/story.lasso?ewcd=14e0816e622e069f
