Oakwood City Council changed its tow trucks law Monday night to set criteria for wrecker businesses interested in providing service at accident scenes.

Companies “would have to have an impoundment lot in Oakwood, a business license in Oakwood — basically they’d have (to have) some connection with the city to be eligible to be on the list,” City Manager Stan Brown said.

“And they’d have to be able to respond within a certain amount of time, and vehicles would have to meet certain inspection criteria.”

Overall, Brown added, “We’re following the same model and same requirements as the state, Hall County, Gainesville, other communities as far as being qualified to do wrecker service.”

In the past, the city has had only one company in town responding to wrecks.

Brown told the council at its June meeting that the city had an inquiry from another company wishing to get on the list to provide service.

So, in addition to setting criteria, the new ordinance sets up a rotation of businesses that police can call to an accident scene.

Accident victims can use their own service unless “it takes too long (for the business) to get the scene and it’s going to hold up traffic,” Brown said.

“We reserve the right to go ahead and call who we need to call,” he added.

Wrecker services also must pass background checks to get on the list.

Owners or operators can’t be felons or have convictions in the past five years for DUI, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, driving without insurance or on a suspended license, or misdemeanor possession of illegal drugs.

In other business, Brown gave the council an update on city projects, including a new welcome or “gateway” sign being built off Interstate 985 at Exit 17, or at the corner of Thurmon Tanner Parkway and Ga. 13/Atlanta Highway.

The sign, featuring an electronic message board, is an effort involving the city and Gainesville State and Lanier Technical colleges.

“We expect that, by the end of the month, we should have that sign in place,” Brown said. “We’ve already had some training on the message board, so we should (also) be able to get that up and running by the end of the month.”