Final week the Dickson Metropolis Finance and Administration Committee examined a draft of two meals truck ordinance proposals drawn up by Mayor Don L. Weiss’ office.
Definitely one of many two proposals would permit meals vans to get a Daily permit for particular occasions. Food vans Can be permited to “function on any public road, alley, Parking lot, sidewalk or completely different proper-of-method or property owned or managed by The city of Dickson or on any privately owned property or Parking lot solely beneath the phrases and circumstances of a Special Event Permit issued by The city of Dickson.” A particular event permit would value $75 a day.
The completely different proposal would permit for an annual permit of $2,400. Companies Which have already acquired a bodily location in Dickson Eager To function a meals truck would Be In a place To buy a mobile meals vendor permit for $100 yrly.
Weiss converseed about his concern that native brick-and-mortar institutions be shielded. His office acquired here up with the decide of $2,400 based mostly on what enterprisees in Dickson Want to pay in permit costs Annually. Ancompletely different concern is that till the meals vans have their base in Dickson, the county gross sales tax portion they collect Will not go to Dickson County however to the county wright here their enterprise Is predicated.
The eight-member city council might approve one of The two ordinances or decide To not approve both. If the council decides to approve one of The two new ordinances, it Ought to move on two readings. Weiss said the proposals Shall be on the agenda for The subsequent county meeting on Monday, Dec. 6.
Up till now, mobile meals distributors have been regulated Inside the city beneath the “peddler’s ordinance,” However the mightor’s office said it actually doesn’t match mobile meals distributors.
Tom Costa owns Katie’s Ice Cream Parlour in Dickson And in addition functions an ice cream trailer Which might fall beneath the definition of a mobile meals vendor.
“We see our mobile unit as A method to assist native occasions and festivals,” Costa said. “It is our Technique of representing Dickson with our household run, non-agency, non-franchise enterprise. As many residents agree, we see regionally owned eateries and meals spots as a draw That provides our downcity An beautiful character.
“We welcome The thought of A exhausting and quick venue Similar to a meals truck park with buyer amenities (restrooms, shade and seating). However, we really paymentl The complete Quantity of mobile meals distributors Ought to be restricted, both by lottery or completely different Technique of selection, with consideration for festivals and occasions hosted right here Inside The city of Dickson. Almost as good as meals vans Might be, tright here Might be An extreme quantity of of A great factor.”
Dickson resident Christopher Maguire owns a meals truck named Haute Wheels Rolling Sandwich Company. He described the proposed $2,400 annual payment as “Barely exorbitant.
“I really paymentl whOn they’re not maintaining in thoughts is how slim our promatch margins are as meals truckers,” he said. “We truly simply don’t have that a lot room to Earn money. Most Of these eating places up right here have Much extra availability to Earn money frequently as a Outcome of They’ve seating, And a lot of of them supply alcohol.”
Maguire said if the city is apprehensive about too many meals vans, a lottery mannequin for meals vans, Just like that of liquor permits, would alleviate that drawback.
Megan Forbes is the Legislative Counsel for Arlington, Va.-based mostly Institute for Justice which Helps A gaggle of meals truck house owners in Tennessee get statewide ideas. Forbes said she is Familiar with each proposed ordinances in Dickson and that each Could have some hurdles for meals truck house owners.
“The $2,400 annual proposal Might be very regarding, as that’s A very extreme payment for a meals truck to Want to pay To function Inside the city,” she said. “Ancompletely different half That is regarding is that eating places who Even have meals vans would solely Want to pay $100 a yr. Tright here’s converse thOn the proposal is designed To shield eating places, and that’s not a respectable use Of presidency power. The federal authorities shouldn’t be shielding eating places On the expense of meals vans.”
Forbes additionally said both payment could Discover your self being a ban on meals vans as a Outcome of she said no meals truck Goes To have The power to afford the payment.