Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Supervisors defer proposed towing advisory board after questions about fees and fairness
Summary
After reviewing draft ordinances and bylaws, Amherst County supervisors expressed concerns about fee‑setting, administrative burden and fairness to local tow operators and agreed to defer action until after the budget cycle (target: second meeting in July) for further study and input.
County attorney Mark Papovich presented draft documents to create a towing advisory board at the sheriff's request, including a proposed $25 vehicle inspection fee and a $100 application fee for tow firms. Board members raised multiple concerns: whether deputies should perform inspections and whether the county should set tow fees; potential favoritism in call lists; and the administrative burden and legal complexity of regulating a private service.
Supervisor Adams urged caution, noting the complexity of imposing new government requirements on small businesses and the need to avoid unintended consequences. Other supervisors referenced past complaints about perceived favoritism but emphasized that a rotation list exists and that pricing disputes have been isolated.
Rather than schedule a public hearing, the board by consensus asked staff to return with more information and recommended including Sheriff Harris in future discussions; a target return date agreed by members was the board's second meeting in July after the budget process.
No ordinance was adopted. The board directed staff to study the issue further and consult stakeholders, including towing operators and the sheriff's office, before returning the item for formal consideration.
