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Local tow operators oppose third‑party dispatch app after county pulls renewal
Summary
Two Williamson County tow company owners told commissioners they oppose renewing a third‑party dispatch and app-based payment contract (agenda item 40), saying it adds fees, creates communication problems, and leaves tow companies bearing costs when vehicles go unclaimed. Commissioners pulled the item from the agenda to allow further review.
Two local tow company owners told the Williamson County Commissioners Court on May 6 that they oppose renewing the county’s contract with a third‑party towing dispatch vendor and asked the county to revisit how the service is managed.
The comments came during the public‑comment period after the court confirmed that agenda item 40 — the contract renewal — had been pulled. John Hammonds, who identified himself as owner of Tiptoe towing and a vendor on the county’s police rotation, said the vendor’s app has increased costs for tow operators and residents.
“My biggest issue concern with them is the fact there is a fee,” Hammonds said. He told commissioners the county previously handled auto return without a third party and that the new vendor charges a fee “to not only the tow companies, but also to the citizens.” Hammonds said the fee structure leaves tow companies responsible for vehicles that go unclaimed.
James Peterson, owner of SAS Towing Recovery, said his company performs “anywhere between 60 to 80 tows a month for Williamson County” and that roughly 20 percent of those towed vehicles go unclaimed. “So not only it doesn't get picked up, we also … have to actually hire somebody to do nothing but take care of [vendor] data on the side,” Peterson said, describing additional staffing and administrative costs.
Both speakers raised operational concerns with the vendor’s app: they said dispatch notices lack sufficient details about location and vehicle condition, and that resolving questions requires calling an 800 number out of state rather than speaking directly with county dispatch staff.
Hammonds and Peterson said Sheriff Matt Lindeman has met with towing providers about the issue; the speakers said the sheriff requested the item be pulled so the county could review the contract before taking action. The court confirmed the item had been removed from the agenda and allowed the speakers to voice concerns.
No formal action was taken on the contract renewal at the May 6 meeting; commissioners recessed the regular session later to convene in executive session on unrelated items. The contract renewal remains off the public agenda for further county review.
The speakers requested that commissioners consider returning some of the vendor fees to the county or reverting to county dispatch to reduce costs and improve communications for tow operators and motorists.
