Kichline’s Garage in Hellertown has been the de facto tow company for police-impounded and disabled vehicles in the borough for longer than most can remember–but that could change, following a discussion by borough council Monday evening.
Another local garage, Lucky’s Auto Body, 1803 Leithsville Road, recently approached Hellertown Police Chief Robert Shupp about becoming a contracted tow truck operator for police-impounded vehicles and wrecks in the borough.
Lucky’s owner Luciano Iatarola told council he already has the equipment and qualifications needed to provide this service, which Shupp said is not a money-maker for the town.
“The borough receives no money from impounds,” he said. “My main concern was (response) time,” he continued.
Response time would not be an issue because Lucky’s is located just minutes from anywhere in town, and Iatarola lives in the Saucon Valley.
Shupp added his department has received some “complaints” from residents about the fees charged by Kichline’s, which is not officially contracted to tow vehicles for the police department.
“We have just always used Kichline’s,” Shupp told council.
Reliability is another concern the chief cited in recommending to council that Lucky’s be contracted as an additional towing company, on a rotational basis with Kichline’s.
He said when the garage recently was closed for vacation, no one from the business notified the police department and Hellertown officers had to wait 45 minutes with a vehicle that needed to be towed until another company responded to the scene.
Several council members said they supported contracting Lucky’s to be another towing provider for the police department, but councilman Philip Weber said the issues Shupp brought up–including complaints–should have been addressed with Kichline’s prior to Monday’s meeting.
Shupp said he had not spoken to the owner of Kichline’s.
Weber also noted that Lucky’s is not located in Hellertown borough. Although it is on the border, it is located in Lower Saucon Township.
“Taxes go where?” Weber asked.
Iatarola said his garage already has the recommended qualifications for a contracted towing provider, including insurance, bonding and a gated impound lot.
“I think it’s healthy to have the two companies on a rotational basis,” councilman John Bate said. “I think this is a win-win for the residents.”
Shupp also noted that the fees charged by the two tow providers don’t necessarily have to be identical.
Council asked the matter be researched further and dialogue take place with Kichline’s before a final decision is made about whether or not to appoint Lucky’s as a rotational or back-up contracted towing provider for the police department.
Lucky’s Auto Body is located at 1803 Leithsville Road, on the border of Hellertown borough and Lower Saucon Township.
