Food trucks slow to appear

By Steve Vied, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

June 10--Entrepreneurs aren't exactly beating down the doors to place food trucks in downtown Owensboro, even though the city made it possible earlier this year to park restaurants on wheels on city streets.

So far, one existing local company, Frozen Tundra, has received a license to continue operating a pair of shaved ice and ice cream trucks under the ordinance, Tim Ross, the city's director of public events, said Monday. Several people have picked up applications for food trucks, but no others have been returned, Ross said.

Ross said he isn't sure why it's taking so long for other food trucks to show up on city streets. Prospective food truck operators may be getting their vehicles ready or working through the process of getting a health department permit, which is required, he said.

"It takes a commitment, and there are start-up costs," Ross said. "We wanted to be proactive, and we had requests to do this. We wanted to have the process."

The city is simply waiting, Ross said.

"From my perspective, there's room for food trucks downtown," Ross said. "The core restaurants are regularly busy. I certainly think we can accommodate food trucks."

Daniel Zielinski, owner of Frozen Tundra, said his company has operated two shaved ice and ice cream trucks for several years in Owensboro, but when the new ordinance was approved, his company had to comply with its rules. Nothing will change for the company. It will not operate its trucks downtown except during special events such as Friday After 5, for which it is permitted, Zielinski said.

In late April, the city's new ordinance permitting food trucks on city streets had begun to produce inquiries, a city official said, and application packets were newly available.

The Owensboro City Commission unanimously approved an ordinance April 15, clearing the way for food trucks to operate within the city. The ordinance, which sparked opposition from several downtown business owners, passed with only a minimum of opposition when it came up for second reading and a vote.

Under the terms of the ordinance, food trucks -- or "mobile food vendors" -- can park almost anywhere as long as they are at least 100 feet from traditional restaurants or food service establishments. They will not be allowed to park on Veterans Boulevard, however.

They will be allowed to park near city parks. The ordinance allows mobile food vendors to operate throughout the city, including downtown, under strict rules.

When a pilot food truck ordinance was being considered in March, Ross told the City Commission that truck vending was a national trend that adds energy and atmosphere to communities while creating additional pedestrian traffic.

Under the city's new ordinance, what won't be allowed are mobile food carts, those small trailers or push carts that sell food under a tent or canopy that could cause sidewalk congestion. Also not allowed -- food trailers pulled by another vehicle. Under the rules, food trucks must be self-contained vehicles.

According to the ordinance, food trucks are required to have a city business license, liability insurance, a Department of Health permit and a city mobile food vending permit. Operators will be charged $250 for an annual permit and an additional $400-a-year fee if operating in the downtown entertainment district.

Steve Vied, 270-691-7297, [email protected]

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