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Chattanooga: Beer, wrecker board delays towing decision

By: Jacqueline Koch
(Contact)

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Board members and Darlene Barr

All About Towing must wait at least two more weeks before the Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board decides whether it will add the wrecker service to the city’s wrecker rotation list.

The board voted Thursday to postpone a decision on the company, located at 2719 Dodds Ave., until its Oct. 2 meeting because owner Darlene Barr had not filled out a new application and did not have a driver other than Carter Gross, a convicted felon. An ordinance being considered by the Chattanooga City Council would not allow convicted felons to drive for tow companies, board members said.

Board members expressed concern that Ms. Barr had little experience in the wrecker business and that she would allow Mr. Gross to continue driving.

“I guess the thing that troubles me on this thing is that we’re using the city’s authority to tell the citizens they got to use this (company) when they come up on the call list,” said board member J. Frederick Weinhold. “Are we being fair to the citizens that need a tow to have someone this uncertain and shaky?”

Chattanooga police officer Glenn Lemley told the board he received a complaint about Mr. Gross and All About Towing this week after the company towed a car from a private parking lot shortly before the lot closed and charged $225, which included a gate fee although there was no gate on the lot.

Ms. Barr said she will search for a new driver during the next few days.

“He was recommended to me because he knows how to tow,” Ms. Barr said, explaining why she used Mr. Gross as a driver.

Board members said they wanted to make sure Ms. Barr was not putting up a front while still employing Mr. Gross or Buddy Vernon Frazier, who was arrested earlier this summer on charges of fraudulent transfer of a motor vehicle and criminal conspiracy. Mr. Frazier is scheduled to appear Wednesday in Hamilton County General Sessions Court to face the charges against him.

Board member Christopher Keene said he saw Mr. Gross outside the City Council room, but he did not see him attend the board meeting.

“Is he hiding something? Is something going on here?” Mr. Keene asked.

Ms. Barr said she was merely trying to help Mr. Frazier, who is her son-in-law, because he’s been in trouble.

“I’m totally new on this,” she said. “I was trying to make a go of this business.”

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