Posted: 04 February 2010 at 14:26 | IP Logged

Our local municipality recently decided to do away with it's police rotation list, and award all no-preference tows to the city towing contractor "to make things simpler"  for the City Dispatchers and "protect" residents from predatory towing.

This issue has too many facets to go into in detail, but the short version is that the City's towing contractor is now towing police impounds to the city impound yard at their contracted rate, and towing wrecks and breakdowns to their own yard (for another price) while all other towers are pretty much denied the opportunity to tow from any incident within city limits. 

The question is, what Federal law or laws pertain to municipalities sticking their nose into private enterprise to this extent?

One member of our local towing community has an appointment with Mike McGovern at the end of this month, but I've got a meeting with the City Council prior to that time, and I need to educate myself a little.   

Alongside the problems with the bigger picture, Badger Towing (that's us) is one of only two towers on the police rotation list for the nearby city of North Pole.   But North Pole utilizes the EMS and police dispatch system from Fairbanks, which means we've been robbed of our North Pole towing as well--police dispatch automatically calls the Fairbanks towing contractor. 

This was a completely unintended consequence of the city's new plan, but it places my company in a unique position of being able to throw a fit that will be viewed as more valid than most.  Especially since most of Fairbanks is annoyed with the "deal" between North Pole and Fairbanks on the subject of police and emergency services. 

So a fit is what I intend to throw...but I don't want to look like a dumass. 

Posted: 05 February 2010 at 09:08 | IP Logged

So basicly they've done away with the rotation list and awarded everything to a single contractor.

From my point of view it should of been placed out on a bid for all tow co's to bid on for a certain period of time, not just awarded to 1 tower without any input from the public or other towers on the rotation.

Magzs your discription of whats taken place sure sounds like a 'good 'ol boy" kick back system and if not it sure gives that impression.

Posted: 05 February 2010 at 14:21 | IP Logged

Like I said, we are talking to Mike McGovern on the overall issue.

The whole issue is more complicated than good 'ol boy crap, though.  The City DID put the contract out to bid, with vague wording that indicated all no-preference towing would be assigned to the Contractor.  This was an arbitrary decision on the part of the City--McGovern says they can't really do that.

THEN, at the pre-bid conference, the City stated that those no-preference tows must be performed at the same (low, below market) rate that the city impound tows are done. 

So most of said no thanks, not interested.  Then, once the contract was awarded, the City allowed the contractor to charge whatever the heck they wanted to for those no preference tows....and the City NOW claims that they never said anything of the sort, and even if they did it doesn't count, and they can't do anything about what the contractor charges for no preference tows...But they don't see an issue with the Contractor getting all the no preference tows anyway.

So it's just a mess.  Most of us just want the rotation list system put back in place.  Mike McGovern has been working with several companies on this and other towing issues we've been having with the City.  Bottom line, this city is stuck in the dark ages...and we're going to have to educate them!

Posted: 10 February 2010 at 03:00 | IP Logged

What's the contract say as far as "no preference" tows?

Here, a citizen in an accident, whose vehicle is NOT being impounded, can request any company -- who can charge whatever they like. Otherwise, the contracted company is called, who charges the rate(s) set in the contract. (Idle thought: what if the citizen requests the contracted company by name? Contracted rate, or regular rate?)