Keota Revises Ordinances to Protect Local Food Vendors

KEOTA – During the Dec. 6 meeting of the Keota City Council, the council approved revised ordinances for food vendor licenses and hours. Under the new ordinances, there will be a $50 application fee for licenses, up from $25, and the license fee will change from $5 per day, $15 per week or $30 per month to $10 per day, $30 per week, and $60 per month. In addition, transient merchants like food trucks will now be unable to sell before 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, although they will still be allowed to sell all day on the weekend. City Administrator Alyica Horras stated the city was trying to be fair to local vendors and that most taxpayer food vendors do most of their business before 1 p.m. Councilman Mike Bender stated that this change came about following an argument between vendors. Councilman Keith Conrad asked if these laws would apply to non-profits or during events like Keota Fun Days; Horras stated exceptions had been written into the ordinances. Conrad recommended closing a potential loophole, where food trucks could theoretically just purchase a cheaper event license and pretend any given day was an event day.

Also at the Monday meeting, the council approved scheduled tax abatement for a new medical clinic owned by Jackie and John Morgan on Broadway, as part of the urban revitalization plan. Micah Harmsen stated he had finished cleaning up the fallen limbs, something that was more work than he anticipated, requiring six days of work and dozens of dump truck trips. The council approved hiring Kristen Clarke as the new part time city clerk assistant at a wage of $14 per hour, with a potential raise after six months. “It will just be a really great opportunity for me,” said Clarke.

The next city council meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 21 at seven p.m., due to Martin Luther King Day.