Elwood mayor vetoes food truck ordinance

Jan. 11—ELWOOD — Elwood Mayor Todd Jones has vetoed an ordinance to regulate food truck operations in the city.

Jones' veto followed a vote by the Elwood City Council on Monday to adopt the ordinance that changed the permit fee from $100 annually to $10 and limited the operation on private property to 48 hours.

"I believe an injustice was done to brick and mortar businesses who have invested in this city," Jones said in his veto message to the council on Tuesday. "We have done nothing to protect their investment as food truck vendors can talk all they want about the chances they take, but brick and mortar take more chances, pay the same cost of goods, in addition to paying property taxes, utilities, and their employee wages."

Jones also believes the $10 annual fee is not fair when Elwood charges contractors a fee of $100.

Jones said he is working with the Madison County Health Department on its guidelines.

"If the Sports Complex comes to fruition and food trucks start setting up in the parking lots and on every corner," Jones said. "The Council is going to need to decide if we want investment in brick and mortar or if we want our streets lined with food trucks."

He plans to have a new food truck ordinance completed to present to the council at the February meeting.

"I have fielded numerous phone calls from brick-and-mortar businesses and their employees today, along with contractors," he said.

Jones encouraged them to attend the February meeting to express their concerns.

To operate in this county, a mobile food truck has to be permitted in this county, by the Madison County Health Department.

The Health Department also requires the food trucks to have a commissary where it returns on a daily basis to discard liquid and solid waste, refill water and ice bins, storage of utensils and a prep area.

A commissary can be located in a different county, but the vendor has to provide a certified copy of their permit to the Madison County Health Department.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.