BARNESVILLE — Village Council passed a measure creating a system to allow mobile food vendors to set up on a village-owned lot once a month following numerous discussions of the matter over the past two months.
Councilman Tony Johnson at the June 21 meeting said that while restaurant owners in the village might not be in favor of allowing the food trucks to set up, there were a lot of other businesses and residents who were in favor of it and that he believed allowing it on a limited basis would be good for the village.
Johnson said that Jacquetta Stephen had offered to be the point person for the village in dealing directly with the vendors and making sure they have all the necessary permits and insurance.
Stephen, who along with her husband Randy operates Two Stack Bar-B-Que, addressed council at its May 10 meeting asking members to implement a system that would allow mobile food vendors to occasionally set up on village lots and provide a contract agreement template that could be used as part of that process.
Stephen is a Barnesville Area Chamber of Commerce member and has experience as the food vendor coordinator for the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival. Stephen said the hope is to eventually coordinate a “First Friday” type of monthly event in the village that would bring people to the downtown area.
While most council members voiced support for moving forward, Councilman Terry McCort maintained his opposition to the practice.
“We do have brick and mortar restaurants paying taxes and at least two have called me and said they didn’t feel it was fair, that they’re here year-round,” he said. “They’re 100 percent committed, whereas with a food truck you jump in and drive away if it doesn’t work out.”
After further discussion, Johnson made a motion to allow up to three food vendors to set up one day each month on the West Main Street parking lot with the application and necessary requirements being coordinated by Jacquetta Stephen and the Chamber of Commerce, and the village charging the vendors a $50 fee. A time limit of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. was also included in the measure.
The motion carried with Councilmen Tim McKelvey, Scott Gallagher, Jamie Betts and council President Les Tickhill voting with Johnson in favor and Councilman McCort voting against.
Meanwhile, a wage increase package for village employees that had been worked on during a Finance Committee meeting was discussed but tabled due to the concerns of Councilmen Betts and Gallagher.
Betts said that while he felt the employees should receive a pay increase, he had concerns.
“I just want to make sure that it’s coming from the appropriate place and we have the money to do so long-term,” he said.
Gallagher added, “I would rather discuss it as well. I don’t know where the funds are coming from. In the last few years, we haven’t banked any money and so I think I don’t know where we can. We’ve got to make some adjustments somewhere, and this is a big matter.”
A full council work session was scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the raises.
Village Administrator Roger Deal informed council that Antero Energy had made its first water withdrawal from Slope Creek Reservoir as part of their new agreement with the village that was approved earlier this year, with Deal reminding them that Antero would purchase water at a rate of $6.50 per 1,000 gallons.
Deal said the initial withdrawal along with testing the system and filling the lines totaled 350,000 gallons and that he hopes that with the recent rains they are able to sell Antero a lot of water.
Deal also updated council concerning the Slope Creek Waterline project, saying that the first environmental study that was required due to the Army Corps of Engineers funding for the project had been completed with positive results. Deal also said that the project was only one of nine in the state to be approved for a zero percent loan through the Ohio EPA.
Deal also thanked Dwayne Stottler of Stottler Tree Service for donating his time and expertise by trimming and shaping the cherry tree that stands in the center of Veteran’s Plaza.
Councilman McCort aksed what would be required so that village residents would no longer have to have a fishing license to fish in the lake at Barnesville Memorial Park and Deal said that the village would have to withdraw from an agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources that has been in place since 1997.
After some discussion Deal said he would research what other consequences the village might face should they decide to do so and report back to council.
Velma Neuhart addressed council concerning her ongoing disagreement with the village over the ownership of property on Louise Lane with Village Solicitor Adam Meyser informing her that the dispute was at a point where she needed to bring action in Belmont County Court asking the judge to make a determination on the matter.
In other business, council authorized paying bills in the amount of $51,374.91, and approved the addition of Brady Wildes to the Barnesville Fire Department roster.
Members also approved building permits for Jefferis Real Estate to construct storage units at 224 Bethesda St., for Suzanne Lambert to install a vinyl fence at 109 W. Leatherwood Pike, and for Penny Shepherd to put in a pool and a new building at 670 E. Main Street.
Fiscal Officer Jeannie Hannahs announced that the next council meeting would be held on at 7 p.m. July 6 with the village observing Independence Day on Monday and that it would be preceded at 6 p.m. by a required public budget hearing, both held in council chambers in the municipal building.
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