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Columbiana council eyes permits for food trucks

COLUMBIANA — City Council is being asked to consider a proposal from the planning commission that would implement a required permit for food trucks in the city.

The mobile food vendor permit was suggested by mayor and commission member Bryan Blakeman, who said the purpose is to try to make up for what the food trucks are not paying in income taxes.

He provided the commission with examples of how food trucks are required to operate in places like Columbus and Cleveland.

His proposal for the city was to implement a $25 fee for a single day permit, $300 for six months and $500 for a full year.

“At the end of the day this permitting structure is a way to regulate a tax. They are not paying an income tax,” Blakeman said.

He said the fees were based off the rough annual net income of a food truck in the city, which was about $50,000 based on one vendor he spoke with.

The city began attracting more food trucks last year, and officials have been attempting to find ways to regulate the

new business in a way that is fair to both the mobile vendors and brick and mortar restaurants.

Resident and businessman Rob Struharik, who does not own or operate a food truck, pointed out that people running a food truck who also work in the city would be paying an income tax twice and suggested a reimbursement structure to encourage people in town who have businesses.

Blakeman said he didn’t have a problem with looking into a possible reduction of income taxes for those already working in the city, but also noted that the city is already paying a “significant amount of money” to the county health department which oversees the city due to not having a local department, and the revenue generated would also help offset that cost.

In addition to the permit, food trucks would be required to show proof of their food vendor license, which they need to obtain from either the Columbiana County or Mahoning County health departments, Blakeman said.

The Columbiana County department currently has a $124 license that lasts a year and must be renewed each March.

Blakeman said the license is so the planning commission can confirm the health food permit is in compliance with the county health inspection.

He also said the county department suggested the city ask vendors what their source of potable is and where they plan to discharge wastewater at end of each business day, and get that information in writing.

Food vendors would need to provide the proof of a license and insurance either when they approach the commission to request permission to operate in the city, or at the time of being asked to by a city official if they had not previously approached the commission.

For example, if a food truck sets up in the city without knowledge of requesting permission first, as long as they are in a site that has been approved for that purpose and meet all of the city’s requirements, they may stay.

The vendors will only be able to operate in the city’s pre-designated areas and if any are found in violation of the requirements would be warned once. Any further violations would result in a fine, yet to be determined.

The commission approved sending the recommendations to council for review.

The specific recommendations are the new permit fee, license requirements and restrictions on hours of operation and number of permits based on pre-approved locations.

The commission also approved allowing Heavenly Kitchen LLC to set up a food truck at Mario Anguili’s Farm Market on state Route 14 through May.

kwhite@mojonews.com

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