Dan McClain of Northville, representing several Eaton County towing and recovery companies, told commissioners the county's FOIA records show most police-initiated tow calls are routed to a single company and asked the commission to review the call-assignment process for fairness and geographic efficiency.

"Of 268 police-initiated calls over six months, 198, nearly 74 percent, went to a single tow company," McClain said. He said many other county-based companies received only a handful of calls during that period and that closer towers were sometimes bypassed, increasing response times.

Central dispatch staff, represented by Kelly, told the committee they had drafted a "no-preference" towing policy to standardize how dispatch assigns a wrecker when a motorist has no preference. The draft would require companies to meet minimum standards (24/7 staffing, certified equipment) and would include a pricing appendix so citizens are not surprised by outsize bills.

"If they say they have no preference, we will use the no-preference list," Kelly said. The draft also contemplates sanctions such as moving a company to the bottom of the list if it cancels a committed run.

Commissioners asked whether the policy could factor distance or response time. Kelly said a geographic/distance model is possible but administratively complex because some tow companies have multiple locations; she asked for direction to develop options. Commissioner Peake and Commissioner Haskell said they would like staff to collect local rate data and compare with similar jurisdictions.

Kelly said she would survey local towing companies and return with suggested pricing and possible geographic models at the next meeting. No formal ordinance or rule was adopted at this meeting; the committee directed staff to continue drafting the policy and to provide pricing and operational options for future consideration.

Provenance: meeting transcript public comment and dispatch discussion began at 00:01:46 and staff presented the draft policy beginning at 01:05:00.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff for a practical policy that balances fairness, response times and administrative burden; staff will return with pricing and geographic options next month.