Wrecker companies present compromise to city leaders - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Wrecker companies present compromise to city leaders

Roslyn Anderson - bio | email

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) – One day before Jackson city leaders vote on a wrecker rotation agreement, company owners present them with a new plan.

But according to police negotiators, it's up to the council to determine whose plan is in the best interest of the citizens.

Wrecker company representatives left Monday's public hearing on a rotation agreement still not satisfied with the city's original plan.

Ward's Wrecker Service owner Trey Ward presented what he called a compromise to members of the Planning Committee during the hearing.

Chairman Kenneth Stokes, Council members Chokwe Lumumba of Ward 2, Charles Tillman of Ward 5 and Tony Yarber of Ward 6 were in attendance.

Ward said his plan will raise the fee of vehicles towed to the city impound lot from $65 to $75 while maintaining the $125 fee for tows to their private lots.

He also proposes a flat rate of $85 for disabled or broken down vehicles with no mileage fee within 10 miles.

"I'm not saying that it's a bad ordinance, but I think it needs to go back to planning committee. They really need to sit down and look at what I've written in collaboration with a lot of other wrecker services and consider this new agreement," said Ward.

JPD negotiators said wrecker owners missed a Thursday meeting where they could have presented the compromise.

The city agrees with the $75 towing fee.

Ward said he was never told the time of the meeting.

"The object of this is to try to protect the public's interest because we had a lot of renegade wrecker owners and drivers who were taking advantage of the public, and we're trying to protect them," said JPD Deputy Chief Lindsey Horton.

Other wrecker company owners said new companies and warehouses that protect cars aren't addressed in the current agreement.

"We're a new company in Jackson and we're not allowed to be in the rotation, because we're told that they can not put us on rotation until we jump through all the hoops in the old agreement that has not been agreed on," said Cindi Clark, of Big Boyz Towing.

The existing agreement was voted out of the planning committee.

Ward Six Councilman Tony Yarber cast the single no vote.

"My support, or lack thereof, of the agreement is simply based upon the fact I am not convinced that we have done due diligence in the negotiation process," said Yarber.

The full council is scheduled to vote on the current agreement Tuesday morning.

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