Food vendors who set up temporarily in Oglesby could soon be required to pay a lot more for the privilege. The current rate is $10 for two weeks. The City Council is considering raising it to $250 for five days.
City Attorney James Andreoni wrote a proposed ordinance so non-profit charitable causes are exempt, but he was asked if some businesses can be exempt too.
City Commissioner Jason Curran sees two sides. On the one hand, he says a brick-and-mortar restaurant that makes ongoing contributions to the city’s sales tax revenue shouldn’t lose business to someone in town for a few days with a food truck. On the other, Curran says it’s unfair to tilt things so much that no one tries to start up in Oglesby.
For now, the ordinance is tabled.