Steve: This is a really rough story: Just got off the phone with Mike Matthews with WellCo Tank Truck (out of Oklahoma) cell 405 410 3555 - he regularly ships out of the Port of Galveston, and his driver was in town last night with a very large truck and trailer (eighteen wheeler size) with a D-10 Bulldozer on board to ship it to Venezuela out of the Port of Galveston. He is a regular customer of the Port of Galveston. Well, this is the sort of business that we consider a part of one of the three legs of the stool (UTMB, Port and Tourism). Somehow his driver of the large truck and trailer parked in a tow away zone while checking in to a local hotel, - and A&A Wrecker Service towed his trailer and his driver came out shocked to find the trailer (but not the truck) missing. Thought it was stolen. Mike called GPD to report trailer and dozer stolen and they were then told by GPD that the trailer was towed. When Mike Matthews called A&A he spoke to a woman there who said it would cost $40,000 to free the trailer. Then, A&A agreed to reduce the cost to $21,000. Now they are doing a big favor to release the trailer for $15,000. This guy is freaking out and reasonably so - and called the Department of Transportation (that regulates towing) who said they have never heard of anything like this. This is bad business for our port customers. Somehow we have a special ordinance that allows for the collection of these fees? Can this happen under our ordinances? Mike Matthews also is such a regular customer that he participated in Ike recovery with his equipment. From the mayor to the manager

Joe Jaworski

Jaworski Law Firm

305 21st Street, Suite 222

Galveston, TX 77550

(409) 763-0700

(409) 763-6352/fax

(409) 771-7139/cell

[email protected]

www.jaworskilawfirm.com