SPRINGDALE -- Lee Dancer of A&B Towing says it's impractical for the Police Department to have only one towing company under contract, but police say the move is necessary to provide consistency.
"I don't believe one wrecker is going to be feasible for the city of Springdale for the size that is. You have to put the hustle on to make it from coast to coast," Dancer said Thursday during a public hearing in City Council chambers at the City Administration Building. "I think you need to look at the 19 wreckers you have and narrow it down to 5 or 10 or 12."
Towing proposal
The “request for proposal” form that must be submitted for a wrecker company to become the Police Department’s sole towing contractor will be available on the front page of the city’s website on Monday. All submissions must be made by May 10.
Source: Lt. Jeff Taylor, public information officer for the Springdale Police Department
Capt. Derek Hudson, who presented most of the requirements for a towing company to become the Police Department's sole towing contractor, acknowledged Dancer's concern.
"Our intent is (to have a) sole source but we reserve the right to accept as many (wrecker) services as we want," Hudson said.
The public hearing was held so wrecker service owners and city officials could discuss a proposal moving the Police Department from using a rotation of towing companies to having one contracted service. Buddy Guldi, owner of Professional Asset Recovery and Towing, was at the meeting and came into it with reservations.
"I don't think it's going to be good for business at all," Guldi said. "The only people I know that are in favor of this are the two people who are really wanting to get the contract. The rest of us are trying to make a living and feed our families, and that's going to get a lot tougher I'm afraid."
Police Chief Mike Peters said at the top of the hearing city officials on hand were taking note of all input from the several wrecker company owners present at the meeting.
"We're trying to benefit the citizens of Springdale," Peters said. "We're trying to get a system that's more manageable for us and more cost-effective for the citizens. We're here to hear what you have to say and we're taking notes."
The Police Department rotates 19 wrecker companies for non-consent towing situations, including accidents, stalled vehicles and vehicle seizures, according to a news release issued by Melissa Reeves, the city's public relations director.
The city calls upon wrecker services to tow vehicles more than 100 times a month, Hudson said.
Having so many services creates inconsistency, Peters said.
"The 19 services all have their own fees, different charges, so if you have two-vehicle accident and we have two wrecker companies come, then charges can be quite different, one can be a lot higher than the other," he said. "So that's not really fair to the public to have that discrepancy in cost."
Guldi acknowledged some companies may create problems.
"To me, if someone is price gouging, it needs to be addressed in an individual basis. Don't punish us all for the sins of a few," Guldi said. "Address the problem, don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
The Police Department has received several complaints about wrecker services, most about excessive charges, Peters said. The department is looking at using a one-wrecker system similar to Fayetteville, he said.
"They told me their complaints went to almost zero," Peters said.
Fayetteville police started using towing contracts in 2008. Sgt. Craig Stout, the department's public information officer, said the department has Fayetteville-based NWA Towing & Recovery under contract.
Stout said it was cumbersome and inconsistent when several wreckers were on rotation.
Peters also described managing several wrecker services as difficult, creating problems for dispatchers.
"We call them and if they're not available we go to the next one on the list," Peters said. "Dispatch will sometimes call three or four companies until they find someone who is available to go out on a call. When we need a wrecker, we're getting calls for accidents and it's a busy time. We don't have time to be making all those calls."
The contracted wrecker can have business outside the Police Department contract, but will make Police Department calls a priority, Peters said.
Bentonville police also have a sole wrecker service, Bentonville Towing, under contract after moving from a rotation, said Kristin Barnes, executive assistant to Police Chief John Simpson.
Rogers police still use a wrecker service rotation, said an official with the Rogers Police Department.
Peters spoke of the need for the policy change during the Feb. 2 City Council committee meeting. A Towing Committee -- made up of Hudson, Lt. Jeff Taylor, Alderman Mike Overton and Senior Deputy City Attorney Taylor Samples -- was formed to evaluate wrecker services applying for the city's contract, Peters said.
Taylor said feedback from the Thursday night's hearing would help develop criteria for the contract.
The Police Department will issue a "request for proposal" to receive contract bids from interested wrecker services. One company will be chosen to enter into a one-year contract with a four-year extension option, Reeves said.
"They will not pay us anything, and we will not pay them anything," Peters said. "They make their money from the towing of cars."
Peters said the Police Department has considered making the transition for years.
"It's a lot of work and we just never did it," he said. "We have been working with the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board and they have guided us through this process."
Board Director Steven Rogers, whose office is in North Little Rock, addressed the wrecking service owners during the hearing.
"For you to have the opportunity to express your concerns or thoughts, you should be very pleased with your law enforcement or city attorney's office, because a lot of cities don't give the opportunity to do that," Rogers said.
There's a mixture of both towing rotations and sole contractors across the state, Rogers said after the meeting.
"It varies. Some cities use a single vendor, other's open it up to all towing companies that comply with their policy," he said.
Hudson asked for patience from the owners.
"Don't give on us just yet. We're working together and trying to figure this sucker out," he said.
NW News on 04/07/2017