Albany wrecker service wants level playing field

ALBANY — Robert Gilliam insists he’s not asking for special treatment. He just wants a level playing field.

Gilliam brought his case to the Albany City Commission Tuesday morning during that board’s work meeting, asking commissioners to “follow the rules you have in place” when selecting wrecker services that are part of a rotation called upon by emergency operators to respond to accident scenes.

“I’m here to simply see if we can get the city to follow its own rules,” Gilliam, an employee of Albany-based A-1 Wrecker Service, said. “There are several wrecker companies on the rotation list who are not qualified to be a part of the rotation, based on the rules you currently have in place. That’s not fair to the companies that are qualified.”

Ward II Commissioner Bobby Coleman challenged Gilliam’s contention that wrecker services that do not meet specifications in city law should be excluded from being called to emergency scenes.

“You talk about laws being in place several years ago. This is a different time,” Coleman said. “I’m not in favor of, and I will not support, excluding anyone from this list. We should be a board that supports inclusion.”

Gilliam said after the meeting the city risks lawsuits by allowing unqualified services to handle vehicles at accident scenes.

“Some of these companies on the city’s rotation don’t have the equipment specified in city law, and some of them don’t have the right insurance,” he said. “I know with a city government, there are different people moving into different positions, and sometimes it’s difficult to keep up with what’s being done. But I’ve talked with (Albany Fire Department) Chief (Ron) Rowe, and I think he sees the need to update existing laws that apply to wrecker services.

“I’m not saying there’s some kind of partiality going on because I have no evidence of that. But I know we aren’t all being held to the same rules. That’s not good business; it leaves the city open to lawsuits.”

The primary portion of city ordinances as they apply to wrecker services is a stipulation that all companies on the rotation for emergency calls must own a wrecker large enough to handle 18-wheelers that are involved in accidents. The city has discussed a “tiered” rotation in which emergency personnel would call only wrecker companies with such capabilities for accidents that involve semis and other large vehicles.

“I think it’s critical that we keep the requirement that everyone have a rig large enough to move an 18-wheeler,” Ward IV Commissioner Roger Marietta said. “I don’t see how requiring people to have proper equipment excludes anyone.”

City Attorney Nathan Davis said a tiered approach would require emergency operators to familiarize themselves with vehicle sizes.

“If we take a two-tiered approach, 911 operators would have to be astute at asking questions about the size of wrecked vehicles,” Davis said.

Coleman responded, “What we tend to have in this city is people with solutions looking for problems. I’d rather invest our efforts in finding solutions to real problems.”

Gilliam said he was speaking on behalf of a number of wrecker services in the community.

“We all work together,” he said. “The only ones who aren’t complaining about this are the ones who don’t follow the rules.”

Davis was tasked with reviewing the existing ordinance in an effort to find a solution to the ongoing impasse.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, restaurant owner Gordon Hall asked the commission to utilize the “millions of dollars in profits” generated by the city’s Utility Board to lower costs of utilities bills in the community.

“Our utility bills are extremely high,” Hall said. “Every year Water, Gas & Light (the Utility Board) generates millions of dollars in profits that are transferred to the city. Why can’t those profits be used to lower utility rates?”

Pointing out the hundreds of nonprofits in the city and county and the hundreds of millions of dollars in untaxed property value, Ward V Commissioner Bob Langstaff mentioned that city utility funds subsidize other city services. He also noted rates are lower for Utility Board customers than other providers in the region.

Hall responded, “In business, you look to cut costs. I’m just wondering if there are unnecessary costs that could be cut to provide relief for Water, Gas & Light customers.”

The commission voted without discussion to provide a letter of support for the Albany Housing Authority in its ongoing efforts to develop the Oaks at North Intown mixed-use housing development. Authority Director Dan McCarthy presented the commission a $97,616.71 PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) check.

The board ended the meeting by approving funding for a software maintenance contract ($78,089.95), a contract for Internet services ($358,000), a SPLOST-financed alley-paving contract ($637,266.38), a demolition contract for hangars at the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport ($106,535.38), and an agreement that will allow Triple S of Moultrie to work with Utility Board crews on utilities expansion projects on the U.S. Highway 82 corridor in Lee County.

City Manager Sharon Subadan announced a tentative May 31 date to open the new pool/splash park at Thornton Gym in East Albany.