Food trucks to be discussed at village board

Food trucks will be discussed at the next village board meeting.

The board will meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. at village hall.

Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges said while an ordinance isn’t ready to either allow or ban food trucks, a discussion will be had regarding the need for such an ordinance.

During the October 8, 2019 board meeting Trustee Dan Davis first broached the issue of allowing food trucks within the village. Davis said he wanted to look into having food trucks at events but wanted to make sure it didn’t harm businesses located within the village.

During the November 12, 2019 meeting Davis said some restaurants owners had concerns with allowing food trucks and he wanted to meet with them to discuss the issue further.

On Feb. 4, 2020 the Public Health and Safety Committee met to discuss food trucks.

Davis, Fruhling-Voges, Trustee Jim Wagner, Frederick Sturts and Roche Cain from Roch’s, Bob Patel from Dairy Queen, Hassan Fadel from Padanos, Kelly Reynolds from Scratch, Tracie Trotter from Wyldewood Cellars, Denise Hatfield from Jack Flash, Jay Wheeler from Monicals, Kathy Lyons from Geschenk and Todd Woods from the St. Joseph IGA met to discuss food trucks.

During the meeting the business owners expressed their concerns and were all against allowing food trucks in St. Joseph. They cited mortgages, rent, utilities and village sales tax as reasons why food trucks should not be allowed within the village.

The Public Health and Safety Committee said they would not be pursuing the issue further, however the entire village board never voted on the issue meaning an ordinance was prohibiting food trucks was never created.
Fruhling-Voges said she was open to having food trucks within the village and suggested using a permit and fee system along with guidelines about placement to alleviate some of the concerns of business owners.

Due to COVID-19, the village board is asking anyone with thoughts on the issue to email Clerk Tiffany McElroy-Smetzer at tasmetzer@gmail.com. Those wishing to attend the meeting can do so but only the side door which enters directly into the village board room will open and social distancing will be observed.