STARKVILLE – The board of aldermen will hold two public hearings in the coming months to consider adopting a citywide towing ordinance.
During its regular monthly meeting Tuesday at City Hall, the board voted unanimously to approve the public hearings. The proposed ordinance would set strict guidelines for all towing companies operating in Starkville in an effort to curb “predatory towing” practices, particularly in apartment complexes, Mayor Lynn Spruill told The Dispatch.
“What it’s intended to do is not allow apartment complexes to take advantage of their tenants and their tenants’ visitors, but to have a very transparent and accessible understanding of what they can and can’t do when they’re coming to park on a property,” Spruill said.
Spruill said the city has received numerous complaints about towing practices, namely from The Social Block and Townhomes complex.
“We’ve gotten lots of complaints about excessive costs associated with … getting the vehicle out of the impound lot and then being towed without getting a warning,” Spruill said.
Golden Akpalar, leasing consultant for The Social Block, confirmed that she has received complaints about the complex’s towing policy from visitors who have had their vehicles towed. Many of those incidents arose from visitors failing to park in designated visitor lots, she said.
The Social Block contracts with Apex Towing, which patrols the complex throughout the day and tows any non-resident vehicles not parked in designated visitor spaces. Apex Towing charges $300 per tow, plus $60 per day for storage.
Under the drafted ordinance, towing fees would be capped at $250 with storage fees limited to $45 per day. Drivers would receive a 24-hour grace period to claim their vehicles. In addition, all companies would be required to maintain standard hours for releasing vehicles, seven days a week.
The ordinance also outlines requirements for signage. Private parking lots would need clear, visible warnings of towing enforcement. In multi-use residential areas, signage would be required at the entrance of each restricted parking lot and at least once every 20 spaces within the lot.
Exceptions would apply for vehicles parked in driveways, lawns or areas “commonly understood to be a yard.” Signs would also not be required when removing vehicles blocking private entrances, exits or loading zones, although permission from the property owner or vehicle driver would still be necessary before towing.
Both towing companies and property owners would be required to maintain records of all towed vehicles for at least three years and make them available to Starkville Police Department upon request.
The first public hearing will be held at the board’s next meeting at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 7.
Other business
In other business, the board:
■ approved authorizing the issuance of up to $15 million in general obligation public improvement bonds for projects related to streets, drainage and parks. The city has two years to identify improvement projects and issue these bonds;
■ approved consideration to appoint Webb Corban, the city’s director of finance, as chief financial officer, effective Oct. 10.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
