MOUNT VERNON — As city council continues discussing food trucks, Knox Foodies founder Ann Weisent-Page provided information about food truck operations at Monday’s meeting.
Starting as a Facebook page, Knox Foodies grew during COVID-19 when many brick-and-mortar stores and restaurants had to shut down. It became a way to bring alternatives to residents and keep them abreast of what was happening with local small businesses.
From that, she grew her business of doing mobile food vendor bookings. Weisent-Page works with Experience Mount Vernon to book vendors for First Friday events, private weddings, individual businesses for grand openings, and others.
“We want to make sure if there’s going to be ongoing discussion, if there is going to be possible legislation, and council is interested in getting more information, that we’re able to bring in subject matter experts and some of the business representatives from those vendors,” she told council.
Councilman Mike Hillier said the food truck discussion is not necessarily about going after income tax.
“We just want to know who’s in town,” he said.
Hillier also has concerns about how close a mobile vendor can be to a brick-and-mortar business and getting property owner’s permission to be on their property.
Food truck operations
According to Weisent-Page, food trucks get licensed in the county where they are headquartered. The license is then portable to all 88 counties without re-licensing.
Local health departments have the authority to inspect any food vendor in their jurisdiction. Weisent-Page said that when she does large community events, she notifies the health and fire departments.
“We also share with our vendors who are coming into town a checklist provided to us by the Knox County Health Department of all the rules and regulations,” she said. “[Mount Vernon Fire Prevention Officer] Terry [Davis] has also provided us with a fire inspection checklist, so we share that with them as well.”
The Mount Vernon Fire Department has the authority to inspect a food truck, even if another jurisdiction has already done so. Inspections take 10 to 15 minutes.
Weisent-Page said the MVFD has said they will do those inspections. However, the MVFD will not inspect every time the truck comes into town unless there is a concern or a need for followup.
Law Director Rob Broeren responded to whether food truck vendors pay income tax. If an individual works at least 20 days within a municipality, they must pay income tax. The 20 days do not have to be consecutive.
Established businesses
“Whatever is decided, we want to make sure we are not doing anything to inadvertently cause hardship to our local businesses,” Weisent-Page said. “There are numerous reasons that businesses are engaging with local [food truck] vendors.”
For example, downtown merchants utilize food trucks for grand openings and other events. Factories in the industrial park bring them in as a fringe benefit to their employees.
Weisent-Page noted that many local businesses operate their own food truck.
“So I think we want to look at what kind of consequences those actions might have on them,” she said. “We also know that any types of fees that we charge mobile vendors will be passed on to customers.”
Weisent-Page said some vendors start mobile with a goal of getting to brick and mortar. She cited two Coshocton County mobile vendors looking for brick-and-mortar space in Mount Vernon’s downtown area.
“Again, we don’t want to inadvertently squash some of that,” she said.
Weisent-Page said that initially, about seven trucks operated locally. That number is now around 27.
“That’s 27 small businesses operating in our community,” she said.
Suggestions
Weisent-Page said she believes it is fair for the city to know who is doing business in the city. She also has no problem with requiring the property owner’s permission.
“I think we also want to make sure we minimize added fees and enforcement,” she told council. “We know enforcement costs, and there are many rules and regulations that are already in place I think can get us to the place that you all are maybe considering.”
Weisent-Page suggested forming a work group with subject experts, brick-and-mortar representatives, and mobile vendors if the city wants to pursue the subject.
She also noted that food trucks are just one of many mobile businesses.
“I think any legislation or any act that might be considered should be considered for any type of business that is mobile in nature and that is coming into the community to work. I don’t think that it’s fair to look just at food service vendors,” she said.