By Jim Bloch
The city of Port Huron has extended the contract of Preferred Towing, Inc. for towing and storage services for another seven years, through June 30, 2030.
The city council voted unanimously at its regular meeting July 10 to approve the extension.
“The first couple of years of my tenure here, I was constantly dealing with subpar contractors (and) breaches contract with regard to towing within the city,” said City Manager James Freed, as heard on the recording of the meeting posted on YouTube. “I actually terminated that contract due to breach of contract. Then we did a request-for-proposals and we got Preferred Towing to take over the contract. I can say since that day, I have never had to think about towing. It has been just a seamless, wonderful relationship. They have moved into the city and made significant capital investments, both in facilities and equipment. They provide our police department with segregated storage for evidence. If a vehicle comes in and it’s part of a crime scene or accident scene that needs to be segregated so it’s not tinkered with, they’ve provided that facility. They’ve invested in their equipment. If you have to tow a fire truck, it requires significant, large equipment that most people don’t have.”
Freed called the company “stellar” and “honest.”
The firm will make $200 per tow. It will be responsible for the towing of and tire changes on city vehicles and equipment when requested by the Port Huron Police Department, Department of Public Works or other authorized city representatives. The service must be available 24-hours per day and available for vehicles and equipment located within 50 miles of City limits.
The company will clean debris on city streets from auto accident scenes even when towing isn’t required. It will conduct quarterly auctions of vehicles designated for disposal by PHPD.
“The reason for the seven year term is that it requires continuous capital investment,” said Freed. “So if they’re going to continue working for us, they’re going to have to invest in large, heavy equipment. They’re going to have to maintain multiple sites for our storage. You can’t ask people to invest that kind of capital with only a three or four year contract.”
Freed thanked the representatives of the company who were in the audience.
“Frankly, it’s been a relief, to be quite candid, to have you guys come in and do such a wonderful job for us,” said Freed.
“I know they do a good job,” said Mayor Pauline Repp. “And we did have a problem for a while.”
The council voted 6-0 to extend the towing contract. Mayor Pro Tem Sherry Archibald was absent.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.