Proposal changes wrecker rotation

Proposal changes wrecker rotation

Residents voicing their concerns over reduction of towing companies

The TimesStacy Chapman, who owns Expressway Wrecker on Athens Highway with her parents, looks over the inside of a tow truck Tuesday in Gainesville. The Gainesville City Council is considering a proposal to change to a bid contract for two local wrecker companies rather than the current rotation system of 11 companies.View Larger

A large number of Gainesville residents showed up to Tuesday's City Council meeting, including several people frustrated about proposed changes to the city's wrecker services.

At Thursday's work session, Gainesville Police Chief Brian Kelly opened up discussion with council members about moving to a bid contract for two local wrecker companies rather than the current rotation system of 11 companies.

"I want to discuss this with you to get direction. The current system lays responsibility on the police department to set the fees and rotation lists and to inspect the lots," he said Thursday.

"We've seen the complaints increase in the last couple of years, and I want to try to express they are not our wrecker services."

Kelly proposed the change based on a study of surrounding city services, saying the bid system makes the companies more responsible for liability, hours of service and prompt response time.

Local wrecker employees showed up Tuesday to voice their concerns about the idea.

"That would put us out of business," said Stacy Chapman, who owns Expressway Wrecker with her parents.

"All we own is tied up in the business, and the rotation keeps us in business. If you go to bid, it will not only put us out of business, we will ... lose everything that we've worked so hard to build."

Chip Patterson of Patterson Auto & Wrecker Service demanded the wrecker companies meet with Kelly in the next 15 days. Others expressed their surprise.

"We'd like to be in on what's going on," said Mike Holland, owner of Holland Wrecker Service.

"We seem to find out later. If we can figure out the problem, we can deal with it."

City Manager Kip Padgett noted that no official change has been proposed at this time and the idea was opened for discussion because of past issues with wrecker services.

"We just don't understand why you want to change it. We follow the guidelines and don't charge over what the city allows," Chapman said. "It's our livelihood, and I feel like we're left out of the loop a lot."

Kelly said he plans to meet with the companies but brought the idea before the council first to gauge their reactions.

"It's just a proposal, and we've been looking at it for years now, even before I was here," he saidTuesday morning. "But I definitely understand their concern."