Kirkland raises administrative tow fees after police outline hearing and adjudication costs

The Village Board adopted Ordinance 2026-02 on Jan. 19 to raise the Village of Kirkland's impound (administrative towing) fees. Police Chief Adam Davenport presented the proposal, summarizing staff time and adjudication costs associated with administrative tows and municipal hearings and comparing Kirkland's fee to nearby municipalities.

Chief Davenport provided the department's rationale in the meeting materials: "The purpose of the Administrative tow fee is to assist the Police Department with costs incurred in preparing, prosecuting, hearing and disposing of violations." The board reviewed a table of previous administrative tows and a municipal-comparison list that showed other jurisdictions charging between $200 and $1,000 depending on vehicle and offense.

Trustee Benes moved to approve the ordinance and Trustee Ziegler seconded; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with all trustees voting yes. The ordinance approval follows the department's submitted record of administrative tows during 2025 and the department's estimate of officer time and adjudication expenses. The approved ordinance was not accompanied by a line-item budget in the meeting minutes; implementation and updated fee schedules will be handled by the clerk's office and police department as directed by the ordinance.