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Wednesday, July 30, 1997     Page:

Tow-truck owner pulls too much weight with Wilkes-Barre officials
   
I would like to know why, after two weeks, the presentation made at the
last
    Wilkes-Barre Council meeting has not received any answers from council or
the mayorThe mayor has enjoyed several meetings with “Kabby” (Bob Kadluboski
of City Wide Towing), which sparked some pretty heavy rumors in City Hall.
What exactly is being hidden by a certain city official?
   
We are aware that OSHA is investigating the lack of proper equipment for
“Kabby” to paint cars. And wouldn’t you know, a city pickup truck currently is
being painted in the garage in question? Is the city liable if a carcinogen is
leaked into the air, and they were aware but continued to support the
business?
   
Someone needs to ask what secrets will be exposed if “Kabby” isn’t
cooperated with.
   
Maybe it will be the fact that a high city official takes a city car to
Avoca every day. Does the city’s liability insurance cover that?
   
Maybe it will be about the old fire truck whose missing round headlights
were replaced with new square ones along with a shiny new paint job, so it
looks almost like a brand-new truck.
   
Or maybe someone needs to ask why the yellow payloader was ordered to do
work on the side at a local scrap yard.
   
City businesses need to be concerned with a person like this, who is left
alone because he is an ally of a certain city official.
   
There are many body shops in the city that are properly equipped, pay city
taxes, and take payment other than cash. Helping city businesses in turn helps
the city.
   
Disperse these jobs and promote businesses that contribute to the city, not
give the city a black eye. Scranton allows different shops to paint each car.
Not a bad idea.
   
It is a shame, Mayor McGroarty, that my concern and my presentation didn’t
warrant a meeting or even a reply from your office.
   
We refuse to ignore this problem. Anyone who was unable to attend the last
council meeting is more than welcome to write their story and forward it to
me. I would appreciate anyone who can provide me with a copy of their towing
receipt.
   
My phone line – 820-8327 – is open to anyone wishing to help with petitions
to have City-Wide Towing removed. The contract needs to be bid according to
certain specifications – not given away free. The city is “being run like a
business,” but when does any business give away $13,850? I know my business
doesn’t.
   
Remember, there’s strength is numbers.
   
Virgil Argenta Jr.
   
Wayne Fuel Oil Inc.
   
Wilkes-Barre