Webster questions abandoned vehicle auction proceeds

Local News

January 17, 2008

Anonymous The Weatherford Democrat Thu Jan 17, 2008, 11:03 AM CST

Galen Scott

gscott@weatherforddemocrat.com

Precinct 4 Parker County Commissioner Jim Webster is calling for an informal audit of proceeds from auctioned-off wrecked, seized and abandoned vehicles owned by Parker County.

In Commissioners Court Monday, Webster voted not to approve a series of routine bills which included a $45,000 payment to Sergeant’s Wrecking service.

In a 4-1 vote, the court authorized payment, despite Webster’s objections.

On a rotating basis, Sergeant’s, Longhorn and AA wrecking services impound the vast majority of wrecked, abandoned and seized vehicles in Parker County.

Within five days after a vehicle is towed, the wrecking company is required to send a certified letter notifying the vehicle’s registered owner and any lien holders. If no one has paid to have the vehicle released a minimum of 30 days later, the Parker County Sheriff’s Office sponsors a public auction and all abandoned vehicles are sold.

Because abandoned vehicles are considered county property, winning bidders write checks to Parker County. When the auction checks clear, the county uses the same money to reimburse the wrecking companies for labor, storage and other expenses.

Following the approval of Monday’s payment, Webster insisted the issue is worth looking into further.

“I just don’t like the way this is coming down,” Webster said. “These are our assets that are being sold.”

Webster guessed local wrecking companies were reimbursed a combined total of more than $100,000 from auctions last year.

According to County Judge Mark Riley, the wrecking issue has been looked into a number of times and the court has decided alternatives are not “cost-feasible.”

Randy Sergeant, of Sergeant’s Wrecking, estimates between 20 and 30 cars are auctioned off during auctions held every three or four months. He said the county sets up the auction and sends a sheriff’s deputy to handle the money.

“We’ve been doing this for years, I don’t know why it’s just now coming up,” he said. “If you don’t do an auction ... I mean you have to do it. If not, you’ve got a million cars sitting here and you can’t do anything with them.”

If wrecking services are not used to store the vehicles, the Parker County Sheriff’s Office is still responsible for conducting a public auction, according to County Attorney John Forrest.

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Webster questions abandoned vehicle auction proceeds

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