Minute with the Mayor

Question: Is there any progress on food trucks and access within the city limits of Sparta?

Answer:  The food truck issue is one of the top five things that the residents ask me about.  Just last week in the city board meeting, the council voted to drop the fees to allow a food truck to purchase a city permit. 

The fees were at one time $500 a year.  We felt that was too much to pay for a permit.  The fee did drop to $250 a couple of years ago.  The new fee structure is very simple:  the cost of the initial application is $120 for the first year.  After the initial permit, a food truck vendor can renew for $100 for the year.  We feel this will allow other food vendors to come into the city.

One that has been a problem is where a mobile vendor can set up within the city.  We are now in process of designating areas to allow a vendor to set up on city property.  We have currently one spot that a food truck may set up anytime and is located across from Metcalf Park in the old jail parking lot beside Sparta City Cemetery.  The city hall has a map that shows the area to set up in.  We are moving forward with other areas.  A mobile vendor may set up at a private business as long as they have permission from the business at the location. 

We also are encouraging food trucks to set up there on Mondays due to many of the local restaurants closing for that day.  We are excited to keep moving forward with this, and we will keep you all informed as updates arise.