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CSGL-5. Purchasing Authority of Plan B Managers (8) <br />Currently the law allows Plan B city managers to make purchases under <br />$1,000 without council approval. This provision has not been changed for many <br />years and inflation lies seriously eroded the utility of the, provision. The law <br />should be amended to increase the figure to the dollar amounts in the Uniform <br />Municipal Contracting Law which allows purchases under $15,000 to be made <br />relatively easily. <br />GSGL-6. Towing of Abandoned Vehicles (B) <br />The League supports legislation clarifying the authority of cities to <br />impound abandoned motor vehicles. <br />Recently, the Legislature passed Minnesota Statutes 465.75 which prohibits <br />a private vehicle tower from removing a motor vehicle from private property <br />unless fie has the permission of the owner of the vehicle or of the owner of the <br />property. While the intent of this statute to prohibit hawkish towing companies <br />from improper towing practices is laudable, toe ramifications of the law go too <br />far. <br />Cities are authorized to impound abandoned motor vehicles and Minnesota <br />Statutes 168B.04 provides a detailed process to accomplish the removal of <br />health hazards and eyesores. Unfortunately, the recent legislative act could be <br />construed to prohibit cities from utilizing private towers to remove and impound <br />abandoned or Junked automobiles. <br />Cities could be forced to use its own employees and equipment because it is <br />not "in the business of towing." The law should be amended by adding an <br />exclusion for private towers who act at the direction of a city following the <br />procedures prescribed in Minnesota law. <br />-19- <br />