Politics & Government

Lake Saint Louis Board of Aldermen To Consider Allowing Mobile Food Trucks

One mobile food truck already has permission from Lowe's to sell from the Lowe's parking lot.

The have agreed to consider an ordinance to allow mobile food trucks and trailers in the city. If it passes, the first such trailer could be selling gourmet hot dogs in the parking lot within two months.

Assistant City Administrator Eric Sterman spoke to the Board of Aldermen Monday night about a request to allow a mobile food trailer in the city. Nothing in the current city code addressed the situation. Sterman said that rather than deal with the business individually, he thought it was time for the board to give it some thought.

The owner of the concession trailer, Dan Kelly, said that the business would offer a variety of gourmet hot dogs, Italian sausages and three types of French fries. Lowe's has given him permission to use their parking lot.

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"This is virgin territory," Kelly said. "It shouldn’t be a shock to the community. We are professional chefs—we make our own hot dogs. But if people think it’s an eyesore, we’re worked it would with Lowe’s so it doesn’t have to be there every day."

Kelly said that he has a 3/4 ton truck and concession trailer, and that expected to be on the site for a limited time each day, such as 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Ward 2 Alderman Ralph Sidebottom expressed concern for existing Hawk Ridge food establishments losing business to the concession trailer. "The brick-and-stone businesses are heavily invested there. How much do we as a city owe to the existing businesses?"

Karen Vennard, Ward 2 alderman, disagreed. "Competition drives the machine out there. If we were concerned, why did we let a Wendy’s go right next to McDonalds?"

Sterman told the board that that the concession would have to have a business license and would pay sales taxes like other businesses.

Mayor Mike Potter took a vote to see if enough aldermen were in favor of concession trucks to consider an ordinance allowing them. Tony Zito voted with Sidebottom against the proposal. Voting in favor were Vennard, Kathy Schweikert, George Rich and Richard Morris.

City Administrator Paul Markworth said that staff would design an ordinance to bring before the board, and that it would be possible that Kelly's concession trailer could be approved within two months.

 


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