Grant County sheriff reports resident complaints about high towing fees, plans negotiations with local wreckers

At the Grant County Quorum Court meeting on Feb. 20, 2024, Sheriff Pete Roberts reported that residents had complained about what he characterized as "excessive" towing fees when officers dispatch a wrecker to accident scenes.

Roberts said he is engaging the two local wrecker services that respond to county calls to negotiate fair and equitable rates for those providers that wish to remain on the county "rotation list" for wreckers. The minutes record the report as an informational item; no ordinance, motion or formal vote to set rates was recorded.

The court did not record any formal action or a proposed timeline for those negotiations in the minutes. The sheriff’s statement was presented as a county operational concern rather than as a proposed regulatory change. Any binding limit on towing fees would require further action by the court or the county purchasing/procurement process.

Roberts' remarks were the principal non-administrative operational item in the minutes; the court otherwise moved through routine approvals and appointments.