Locksmith voices concerns

A local locksmith expressed concern that Marietta City Police are competing with his business when they unlock car doors for people who have locked keys inside their vehicles.

Tad Wigal, owner of Ace Lock, Safe and Security Co. at 122 Front St., said officers have been unlocking vehicles and not charging for the service for some time, but noted a recent proposal by city safety-service director Chad Presley to charge a $40 fee for vehicle unlocks by policemen.

"But Ace Lock charges $35 to unlock vehicles within the city limits," Wigal said. "And unlocking car doors takes police away from their duties."

As a former member of the Parkersburg Police Department, he said that agency never received training on unlocking doors.

"This should not be done by the police department, and I have an issue with police doing my job and taking away from my business," Wigal added. "I want to do business in this community and to have a successful business."

Councilman Andy Thompson, R-at large, agreed with Wigal.

"He made a good point," Thompson said. "Although I understand that the police department wants to help people, we don't want to be in competition with private businesses."

And Councilman Mike McCauley, D-2nd Ward, said he, too, appreciated Wigal's comments.

"In most other communities the police defer unlocks to a local locksmith unless there's an emergency, like the car was left running," he said.

The $40 fee to unlock vehicles was among several other new or increased city service fees recommended by Presley during a meeting of council's police and fire committee Jan. 26.

In other business

Authorized advertisement for bids and contracts for the city's 2010 asphalt paving program, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramp replacement program, and the Gilman Avenue resurfacing and sidewalk installation project.

Approved a $20,000 change order on the Mound Cemetery fence rehabilitation project allowing replacement of 68 fence posts that were not included in the original contract.

Authorized bids and a contract to dispose of sanitary sewage sludge from the wastewater treatment plant in a sanitary landfill.

Approved proposed paving and upgrades by the Ohio Department of Transportation near the intersection of Ohio 7 and Interstate 77 between the east end of the Duck Creek bridge and the Pike and Acme streets intersection.

Approved a contract with Pickering Associates, Inc., to evaluate renovation possibilities for the second floor of 301 Putnam St.

Authorized a change order allowing Stantec Consulting Services to assess damage and repairs in the wake of the Jan. 3 sewage leak at the wastewater treatment plant.

Approved a resolution honoring Marietta Fire Capt. Daniel Hale, who's retiring Saturday after 26 years of service.

Member Comments

View Comments: | 1-24 | Post a comment

AroundTownGirl
02-06-10 4:33 PM »Report Abuse	Thank you Demosthenes. I also believe that Mr. Wigal may have been misquoted which did cause his intentions to seem different than what they truly were. He is the "new" owner of Ace and I'm sure doing all he can to make a success of his small business. Calling him rude, condescending or greedy seems very unfair unless you were present at the City Council meeting and heard with your own ears what was said.
BlevsNmarietta
02-06-10 3:07 PM »Report Abuse	I have supported Ace Lock, Safe and Security Co. when John owned it for years and still do with all my lock needs but still think Mr.Chad Presley need to work on filling pot holes down at the street dept. with spare time and not think up stupid things like this if he did this there would not be any problem he just caused the problem .
Demosthenes
02-05-10 11:20 PM »Report Abuse	BondIV: the fee hasn't passed yet, it is in the process of being passed and hasn't been voted on yet. the point of Mr.Wigal speaking to council was to encourage the fee, since it would make his price cheaper. it appears that the Times put a wayward spin on Mr.Wigal's words. bulldog: what the Times leaves out in this article is the fact that Mr.Wigal is the NEW owner of Ace Lock and recently took over the business...so i'm not sure why he should've known this for years? ramon05: i'm sorry, when did being an owner of a business not count as a "real job"? what exactly is your definition of a real job??? this man is not a crybaby, rude, or greedy. i believe what he said was slightly misquoted, causing his tone/intentions to sound untrue to what they really are. i am appalled at all this denouncement towards a man who is only trying to save his business. small businesses have been hit the hardest by the recession and the citizens of Marietta should be supporting them!
tingette
02-05-10 10:44 PM »Report Abuse	They all need to vote NO. Let the professional locksmiths do their job and let thepolice do theirs. We already pay their salries, no reason they cannot open a door now and then. If they are tied up with an emergency, the locksmith needs to be called. Do the police open doors if one is locked out of their homes? Not much difference.
hockeypuck
02-05-10 6:11 PM »Report Abuse	Well, it will be interesting to hear what Vuk and Shive think about this. They will probably vote NO again. Imagine that.
ramon05
02-05-10 5:38 PM »Report Abuse	This guy is a real cry baby!! maybe he needs to get out and get a real job, and the councilmen who played him like a fiddle( like they were really on his side lol)
Birdlover
02-05-10 5:35 PM »Report Abuse	THETRUTH...yeah, whatever! I didn't see it so I don't know what your talking about!
THETRUTH
02-05-10 3:18 PM »Report Abuse	I must have come close to the truth birdlover, my post was removed..
MariettaOhio45750
02-05-10 3:04 PM »Report Abuse	The PD should not be unlocking cars. They should be enforcing laws, investigating crimes and protecting the citizens and visitors of Marietta.
Letsstayfocused
02-05-10 2:13 PM »Report Abuse	Yes, Bond IV, I agree the police dept. doing it for free did not help Ace's business. But the police dept has an unfair advantage because they are so easy to get a hold of through 911. And before everybody argues that that's not what 911 is for. I would agree locking your keys in your car is not an emergency unless there is a child involve. But people will still do it. I bet right now people are calling 911 to find out how bad the roads if you live in an area that's getting pounded with snow.
Lizard
02-05-10 2:12 PM »Report Abuse	This is the same issue as with the Armory. The city wants to renovate the Armory, at the cost of millions of taxpayer dollars, to put businesses in it that compete with private entrepreneurs. The Armory is not able to be rebuilt and maintained WITHOUT taxpayer money and should be abandoned. Mr Wigal is right to complain that taxpayer money is being used to take his revenue away from him. It is improper and unjust competition. Police should only be used for emergencies. All other calls should be referred to the yellow pages for a competent and licensed locksmith!
BondIV
02-05-10 12:54 PM »Report Abuse	Like bulldog says, this makes zero sense. Ace has been competing w/ the PD for years, at a huge disadvantage (free vs. $35). Now, the PD is going to charge $40... $5 more than Ace. How is this worse for his business? If anything, he should be happy there will be a fee now. Same (or better) service for less $ should mean more business for Ace, no? What's the issue? Why is this a news story?
jagged
02-05-10 12:26 PM »Report Abuse	The system's (local, state and federal government) aim is for socialism and to take over the private sector. Abuse of power and money.
Taxtired
02-05-10 11:51 AM »Report Abuse	well,the city needs to get a business license and insurance and invoice book.Then pay taxes to themselves.If you are in business,you must have these things..they wont let you do it without the proper paperwork
Roscoe
02-05-10 11:20 AM »Report Abuse	Them there greedy small business owners, with their aspirations of becoming successful. All they want to do is make a buck, with no regard to the collective good of the people.
cmhbob
02-05-10 11:15 AM »Report Abuse	In a lot of cities, the police won't do it at all, due to the risk of breaking the lock mechanism. In Columbus, if you're locked out, you're on your own, unless there's an infant in the car. Then they call the fire department, who uses a "master key." :)
bulldog58
02-05-10 11:08 AM »Report Abuse	Let me get this straight Mr wigal just found out the police were doing this for free for years now and all at once this is going to hurt his business. how can the police charging 5 buck more than him hurt his business you think it whould help whith math like his ia'm suprised he has been in town as long as he has
Birdlover
02-05-10 10:42 AM »Report Abuse	OPPS! Not sure how I missed that but thanks Ohioankev for pointing it out! I think the police should offer it as a free service but if they begin asking for a fee then they are just as greedy and rude as the locksmith!
ohioankev
02-05-10 10:35 AM »Report Abuse	Birdlover I think you missed the point of the article. The Marietta Police are doing this as a free service now, but now they want to charge $40 for doing so which puts them in direct competition with the locksmith. The only problem with that the locksmith's business is funded by the revenue he brings in from completing jobs and selling goods while the police departments revenue is brought in from taxes and fundraisers. Regardless of how rude or unprofessional the locksmith is he has a valid concern about the police departments new policy. The only time when the police should be unlocking someones door is if their is a child lock inside.
Birdlover
02-05-10 10:26 AM »Report Abuse	IMO, Mr.Wigal is being greedy, rude and even a bit arrogant for voicing concerns over this! I'm glad the police are willing to take time to help people locked out of their cars as a free service! They have plenty of time to prevent crime and this is just a nice thing to do for someone who is possibly stressed and/or doesn't have the money to pay someone to help them!
OregonRobRoy
02-05-10 9:52 AM »Report Abuse	Amen Redshift, Marietta1788, and Wigal.
Redshift
02-05-10 9:15 AM »Report Abuse	Let the police unlock doors for free in an emergancy, but refer all others to the locksmith...
rikrab
02-05-10 9:15 AM »Report Abuse	I will walk before I call Ace since these lock police can be rude and condescending.
Marietta1788
02-05-10 9:05 AM »Report Abuse	I agree with Wigal. The police should be our solving and preventing crime instead of doing the locksmith's job.

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