DANVILLE — Police department concerns about the criminal records of tow truck drivers doing business with the city are prompting a more formalized agreement for tow services used by the city.

The city council’s public services committee will consider Tuesday approving a general agreement setting requirements for tow companies that the city works with.

The city now rotates towing services – largely for public nuisance tows which can total one or two a day for driver’s with suspended or revoked driver’s licenses — with Carpenter’s and Carnaghi’s towing companies.

Corporate Counsel Dave Wesner said historically, the police chief and towing company owners would coordinate internally the towing services needed, such as to tow away an inoperable vehicle in a yard.

The towing for the city rotates each month between the two companies.

But Wesner said concerns have come up recently regarding drivers’ felony backgrounds.

“If there is an individual who has a history or is reported as a sex offender, we do not want them to be an owner or driver,” Wesner said.

The driver could be giving a member of the public a ride somewhere, he said.

Deputy Director of Police Bob Richard said the department wants to ensure the public that the towing company drivers and operators are free of any type of violent crime.

“We don’t want to introduce these individuals to citizens within the community. They are towing 24 hours a day, (whether it be) 3 in the afternoon or 3 in the morning,” Richard said.

“We have some type of due diligence to do preliminary screening…,” he added.

The new proposed agreement states background checks of drivers and the owner/operator shall be conducted at the owner/operator’s expense.

No owner or driver can be convicted of any Class X felony, or have any conviction for a sex crime or one which would require the individual to register as a sex offender.

The agreement also doesn’t allow an owner or driver conviction within the 10 years prior to the agreement or hire date for a Class 1 or Class 2 felony, or a conviction within the seven years prior to the agreement date or hire date for a Class 3 or Class 4 felony or a crime of moral turpitude.

Equipment and impound yard requirements also are included in the agreement. It also states the monthly rotation if there is more than one tow operator the city works with.

Wesner said Stephanie Carnaghi with Carpenter’s is aware of the new agreement and has been asking questions about it. She could not be reached for comment Friday.

Also Tuesday, the committee will consider approving an intergovernmental agreement with the village of Henning for use of the city’s administrative adjudication (day court) system.

This would make 14 villages and municipalities countywide in which the city handles their cases.

However, it’s more like 13 now.

Wesner said Rankin has been taking its cases to Hoopeston which set up its own court system to handle ordinance violations.

He adds that Georgetown, not part of the 13, still takes its cases to the Vermilion County Courthouse.

The costs associated with each violation, such as specific fines, go to each village or municipality. The city recovers administration costs.

“The smaller villages don’t have a significant case load,” Wesner said.

The city’s system with hearing officers is beneficial for the city and outside municipalities to resolve their cases more quickly.





COMING UP

The city council’s public services committee will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Robert E. Jones Municipal Building, 17 W. Main St.