Members of the Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board lowered an individual tow fee by $200 after lengthy debate during their Thursday meeting.
Board members also heard from another operator who disputed his recent arrest.
Mike and Gary Phillips with TowCo explained how a complex tow that involved a boat resulted in a $725 bill to the property owner.
“When you secure a boat to a flatbed trailer, it’s different than a car,” Mike Phillips told the board.
He had been called by Chattanooga police on April 2 to a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 75. A boat trailer owned by Junior Parm, a Chatsworth, Ga., resident, had jackknifed, come loose from the van he used to pull it and fallen into the road.
After about an hour on the scene using two wrecker trucks, one for the 21-foot boat and one for the trailer, and additional work at TowCo’s salvage yard, the bill totaled $725.
Mr. Parm made a formal complaint about the high charge to police, who brought the complaint to the board.
After nearly 30 minutes of discussion and ordinance checks, the beer board agreed to lower the fee to $525.
Mr. Parm was at the meeting before his complaint’s review, but he left before the agenda item was discussed.
“Clearly he’s not that concerned with it,” said board member James Hobbs when they sought Mr. Parm’s input.
During the open-discussion period at the end of the meeting, Buddy Frazier, manager of All About Towing, brought information to the board disputing his arrest after a Feb. 19 tow at the Reserve on Lake Resort Terrace.
According to documents from the Hamilton County grand jury, Chattanooga police Officer John Collins told the April session of the grand jury that Mr. Frazier “did unlawfully tow or store a vehicle belonging … without obtaining express written authorization.”
Mr. Frazier later was arrested and paid a $2,500 bond to be released from the Hamilton County Jail on the charge. His court date is set for June 11.
Mr. Frazier insisted that he had the proper written authorization for the tow.
The board listened to his complaint, but directed him to the district attorney’s office and reminded him that the board does not have authority over private property tows.
Mr. Frazier has filed a complaint with Chattanooga police against Officer Collins, who was not present at the meeting.
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