Two of four businesses operating out of the corner lot at Slack and Weston streets do not have a current license from the state to operate, according to state records.
Neither CVT Towing nor Metro Motors have a valid license from the state Towing and Recovery Board or the Used Motor Vehicle Bureau, according to state officials. Pinnacle Motors and the transport business are currently licensed.
Mayor Jackie Crabtree confirmed the city business license for the companies not currently licensed by the state have been suspended.
On Tuesday, CVT Towing and Transport owner Vickie Slaughter said she has just had the tow trucks inspected and was driving to Searcy to complete the licensing process.
“Nothing is running illegal,” she said.
Slaughter said there is only one person in the entire state workingon the licensing of tow vehicles and that records must be submitted two months prior to the license renewal date. She said she has operated a tow company for two years.
As for the lapse of the license for Metro Motors, Slaughter said the paper work and a money order were sent to the state; the company received a certificate; but later received a call that the certificate was sent in error.
“It was our understanding that everything was legal,” Slaughter said.
Towing companies work on a rotation basis with the county with alternate businesses called to wreck scenes. CVT Towing was removed from the county rotation list, according to Police Chief Tim Ledbetter.
She admitted her company is not on the county rotation list and is on the Bella Vista and state list, but has asked for to be temporarily removed from the rotation list until she has a valid license.
CVT Towing was approved for an impound lot at 624 Slack Street on June 7, 2011, by the city’s Planning Commission on a splitvote with two commissioners voting against the business. Planning Commission minutes from June 7, 2011, note that Ted Slaughter, the owner, said he was not going to operate a salvage or junk vehicle lot.
At the May 1, 2012, Planning Commission meeting, commissioner Jerry Burton expressed concern about a car sales lot operating out of the impound lot. When asked about business license for the lot, city building official Tony Townsend said there were both a tow business and a sales business.
In August, Ben Martinez and Mike Thompson appeared before the Planning Commission wanting to open two used car dealerships - Metro Motors and Pinnacle Motors - at the same site. The assistant city attorney said the businesses fit the current zoning. At the time, Townsend told city planners the paper work for both businesses was in order.
Martinez said he sells wholesales cars and Thompson sells retail. Both men claimed to rent space from CVT.
“Everything is being fixed,” Slaughter said.
News, Pages 1 on 12/12/2012