Des Moines City Council to Decide Fate of Crow Tow Contract Amid Bias Allegations
– The Des Moines City Council is scheduled to vote on a multi-year contract for vehicle towing, storage, and auctioneering services, with Crow Tow as the proposed awardee. The decision comes after a formal appeal from Central Iowa Towing and Recovery (CITR) was overruled by City Manager Scott Sanders, and follows a monthslong bidding process.
The City’s evaluation and selection committee initially recommended Crow Tow for the contract, which is valued at up to $300,000 annually. CITR formally appealed the decision on , alleging bias in the request for proposal (RFP) process. However, Sanders upheld the committee’s recommendation, paving the way for the City Council’s vote.
According to a news release, Sanders stated that “multiple aspects of the (Central Iowa Towing and Recovery) proposal could be anticipated to increase costs for both residents who have been towed through the City contract and the City itself.” He further explained that these potential increased costs were the determining factor in selecting Crow Tow.
A key point of contention during the bidding process involved notification procedures for vehicle owners. CITR’s bid reportedly crossed out the requirement to notify vehicle owners within 72 hours of impoundment, instead proposing a 20-day timeframe. City officials argued this extended notification period could result in up to 17 additional days of storage fees for vehicle owners.
The contract will cover the towing of approximately 3,500 vehicles annually that are impounded by the Des Moines Police Department due to crashes, crimes, or other infractions, such as expired registrations. The city, as well as vehicle owners, will be responsible for payment. Proceeds from vehicle auctions are also a significant revenue source for the city.
Tyler Mortvedt, manager of Central Iowa Towing and Recovery, has publicly claimed the RFP process was biased in favor of Crow Tow. He alleges that city officials failed to incorporate new consumer protections into the RFP despite widespread complaints regarding Crow Tow’s charges and practices. Mortvedt also suggested that campaign donations from a Crow Tow co-owner and lobbyist may have influenced the city’s decision.
Marc Beltrame, a lobbyist for Crow Tow, declined to comment on the allegations, referring questions to city staff. Peter Zemansky, a spokesperson for Des Moines, stated that city officials would not comment on the contract while the process is ongoing. Attempts to reach Crow Tow owner Randy Crow for comment were unsuccessful, as he was reportedly unavailable due to a snowstorm.
This is not the first time Crow Tow has faced scrutiny. The company was previously dropped by Polk County following complaints, but is now poised to reclaim a significant towing contract within the city of Des Moines. The City Council’s decision on will determine whether Crow Tow will continue to handle the city’s towing needs, or if CITR’s allegations of bias will prompt further review.
Several City Council members, Mayor Connie Boesen and Des Moines police spokesperson Lt. Paul Parizek did not respond to requests for comment regarding Mortvedt’s allegations.
