By Louie Graves
News-Leader staff
With the blessing of the Nashville City Council, Mayor Larry Dunaway will re-write an ordinance to allow food trucks to operate without permits at the Farmers’ Market on Fridays this spring, summer and early fall.
Market manager Melanie Schwartz attended the meeting and answered questions leftover from the February meeting when the item first was on the city agenda. The current permit fee is $150 for seven days and $250 for a month. The days do not have to be consecutive. Currently food trucks can operate without permit at the city park during events.
Alderman Joe Hoen again expressed hopes it would not adversely affect storefront food sellers, but also asked about available parking at the site. Schwartz said that she really didn’t expect more than one truck, and that the cancellation of the food permit for a few hours on Fridays would help her recruit food trucks. The trucks would serve food customers during operating hours, 7-11 a.m. on Fridays during the months the market operates.
Other agenda items for the council in its regular meeting for March:
The council approved the mayor’s recommendation of Brent Thompson to fill a vacant seat at the council table. Thompson will represent Ward 5.
Police Chief Amy Marion told the council that she had applied for a grant to outfit patrol cars with computers. The equipment will be paid by a 90-10 law enforcement grant. She also said that two new officers had been hired, bringing the department’s roster full.
Code Enforcement Officer David Riggs presented a resolution to condemn vacant houses at 1101 and 1117 S. Price as unsafe nuisances. The owners — heirs of the late Fletcher Benson — have 30 days to take action before the city clears the property and places a lien.
In his capacity as Public Works Director, Mayor Dunaway updated projects on the water treatment system, sidewalks and drainage. He said that some of the grant money would be taken from a proposed sidewalk system along Peachtree Street and used to make drainage improvements on South Main.
Council members present included Lynn Dyer, Herbert Turley, Charles Pinkston, Kay Gathright, William Turley, Vivian Wright, Phil Jones, Brent Thompson, Donna Harwell, Joe Hoen and Freddie Horne. Also present, City Recorder Lauren Hoen, Code Enforcement Officer David Riggs, Police Chief Amy Marion, Fire Marshal Justin Thornton, Financial Officer Kimberly Green, and Developing Howard County Executive Director Vanessa Weeks.
