The Maryland Heights Police Dept has a new towing contractor despite limited dissent from the city council. The council voted 7-1 to authorize the mayor to enter into a contract with Doc’s Towing Incorporated.

Ken Gold was the lone “nay” vote. He explained during the meeting that Hood’s Automotoive and Towing, the company that previously held the contract, was the police’s towing service for as long as he could remember. Gold said also he’s spoken with Joe Hood, founder of Hood’s Auto, who told him Doc’s Towing has been underbidding services. In Gold's estimation, the services cannot be done at Doc's price.

Deputy Chief of Police Major Mike Kozuszek addressed the council. He told city officials Hood’s and Doc’s were the only companies who placed bids for the towing contract. He said Doc’s has an “A” rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), more than enough parking room and a building to keep a few vehicles.

“There was no reason we could find to say no to Doc’s under our requirements for bid specs,” Kozuszek said.

A quick search on the BBB's website shows an "A+" rating for Hood's Automotive and Towing. The website also shows one complaint logged with the BBB against Hood's Automotive within the last three years, while Doc's towing has three during the same time frame.

The city council also passed several other pieces of legislation Thursday night.

• A motion to approve Original Package and Sunday Original Package liquor licenses for Quiktrip Corporation, d/b/a Quiktrip Store #644 at 11525 Dorsett Rd.
• A motion to approve Original Package and Sunday Original Package liquor licenses for 7-Eleven Sales Corporation, d/b/a 7-Eleven Store #22506B located at 12234 McKelvey Rd.
• A motion to approve the installation of a scented garden dedicated to the memory of Councilwoman Judy Barnett; the cost of said installation not exceed the amount of the donations received by the city for this purpose. Barnett died earlier this year. According to a memorandum from City Administrator Mark Levin, Barnett’s friends and family members donated $2,090 in her memory to build a memorial garden in Vago Park.
• A resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for and accept a grant from the Missouri Department of Public Safety for funding the enforcement of underage drinking laws
• An ordinance amending Chapter 13 of the Municipal Code by adopting a new section providing for no automatic adjustments in business license tax on gross receipts of public utility companies
• An ordinance approving the minor subdivision record plat for Tabor’s Subdivision on McKelvey Road Subdivision (Petition of Mary Tabor)
• An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with URS Corporation to provide a sound study for Interstate 270, from Mo Route 364/D to McKelvey Road.
• An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Missouri Department of Transportation for improvements to Progress Parkway, from Westport Plaza Drive to north of Kimpler Drive
• An ordinance repealing Section 13-132 of the Municipal Code and enacting a new Section 13-132 in lieu thereof regarding utility tax rebates
• An ordinance repealing Section 7.2 of the Maryland Heights Municipal Code, enacting a new Section 7.2 in lieu thereof, describing and designating ward lines; the ordinance passed 6-2, with Councilmen Ed Dirck and Michael Hachmeister voting against the ordinance.