Not Everyone's Excited About Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays
Mixed feelings about Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays resulted in Smyrna City Council's first tie vote in over a decade.
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The announcement of Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays has had an overwhelmingly positive reception on this site and social media, but not everyone is as excited about the prospect. Three Smyrna City Council members voted against the food trucks at Monday’s meeting. Because Ward 3 Council Representative Teri Anulewicz was absent, Mayor Max Bacon had to cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the ordinance.
Smyrna City Clerk Susan Hiott said the mayor hasn’t had to break a tie vote since 2007. There were only three instances of a tie vote in the past decade.
Ward 5 Representative Susan Wilkinson, Ward 6 Representative Wade Lnenicka and Ward 7 Representative Ron Fennel opposed the ordinance that creates Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Taylor Brawner Park.
Fennel said he was concerned because the food trucks won’t be required to hold a Smyrna business license or pay city of Smyrna sales tax.
“I like that the concept of the food truck,” he said. “My mission is to number one protect the businesses that exist here in Smyrna. Our local businesses already pay taxes in Smyrna and I want to support them.”
Lnenicka was concerned about the impact that Food Truck Tuesdays might have on the neighborhoods near Taylor Brawner Park.
“It’s directly near a residential neighborhood and particularly, not during the summer but in the fall or in late summer when school starts this is scheduled to go until 9 p.m.,” he said. “And 9 p.m. is too late for little kids being put to bed on a school night or maybe too much distraction for them to be able to study (…) I don’t have any real heartburn with it, but I just think there were some details that needed to be discussed. The first time we had discussed it was tonight.”
Wilkinson said she would have also liked more time to consider her vote.
“I just heard about it tonight and had concerns about it,” she said. “It could turn out a great thing and people might like it, but I just felt like it might be more open to the people in Smyrna who have business licenses in Smyrna.
Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays could begin as early as June 26 and will run through the summer and into the fall.
More About Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays on Smyrna-Vinings Patch:
- POLL: What Food Trucks Would You Like to See at Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays?
- Drive In, Order Up: Food Truck Park Coming to Smyrna
Lissa K.
12:31 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Food Truck Tuesdays is a great idea. In fact a food truck area would be a win win situation. More inexpensive places for people to eat and a chance for small businesses to develop.
Balcom
1:03 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
My son manages the Grilled Cheese Truck in Los Angeles and they have about 18 trucks show up in Venice Beach once a month on Thursdays and it is extremely popular. The local restuarants finally got on board once they realized that the food trucks can't serve alcohol and the only seating is nearby benches and curbs, so the patrons would go to the local establishments for beverages and music after they got their foodie on. I think this is a wonderful opportunity for the truck owners, local establishments and the citizens of Smyrna. Can't wait to taste some of the wonderful food coming our way.
Oscar G.
1:58 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Just off Howell Mill Rd. and I-75 is the new Food Truck Park and I have to say, it's doing GREAT!
Different choices, they've put in benches and picnic tables, they have live music sometimes, and I understand they even have a Farmer's Market on Sundays.
There is no reason that Smyrna can't enjoy the same type of environment right here!
Why drive to Howell Mill to enjoy the same kinds of foods and environment, when it could be as close as Atlanta Road?
It is the way of the immediate future and this city should embrace it.
I'll be there to support it. I think it's a great use of the space and I welcome the diversity.
Kamma
3:37 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Once a week shouldn't hurt the local economy, if anything it will boost it! There are hundreds of people that love the food truck concept! Have the trucks in once a week will get new people interested in the area, they will see the local boutiques, eateries and bars. This is a WIN-WIN situation.
As far as it being a distraction for children on school nights? No-way. The parents that put their kids to bed before 9 won't be out late anyhow. And I highly doubt any noise ordinances would be broken.
I am all for it!
Is there a vegetarian truck???
C.J.
3:58 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
RE: "9 p.m. is too late for little kids being put to bed on a school night or maybe too much distraction for them..."
What? Some people need to get out of their communities and travel. Visit the wonderful parks and public gathering places throughout the world, and you'll find numerous families enjoying themselves outdoors with music and food and art, yes, after 9:00 p.m. This self-righteous statement by Representative Lnenicka was probably as egregious an example of big government as I've seen.
I'm looking forward to my first food truck experience in Smyrna. It's about time!
Thomas
4:28 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
This is hardly a big deal. Let the trucks conduct business in an area that is far enough away from the established local businesses. The consumers will decide how they want to spend their money. If the local businesses aren't able to attract customers via the quality/variety of their food then it's on them. Park the trucks around the fountain in the Market Village, then we might have an issue regarding accessibility to local businesses.
Andy
5:54 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Why is this an either-or issue? Because you support food trucks one night a week you don't patronize 'tax paying ' businesses the other 6.5 days? That's on you, not the food trucks. I hate to generalize, but I'm inclined to believe that the people excited for a food truck park are the same people who make it a point to visit locally owned & operated restaurants.
gaweatherboy
8:21 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
I doubt they're the same clientele at all.
Smyrna Family
12:46 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Once again this initiative brings a great opportunity to make Smyrna a destination by offering something unique and family friendly for the community. Lets support this and open it up to Smyrna area businesses too! What a chance to get some much needed advertising and energy around the small business owners businesses. This concept has been a winner in California for some time. Howell Mill has recently implemented this with terrific results. I agree with Andy -- we make it a point to go local for our nights out and wish others would do the same. Yes, the family can go out and enjoy an evening together on a budget. Thanks for the chance for one more option!
Eve
4:10 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012
I agree with Ron Fennel about the local businesses already paying taxes. These food trucks need to pay taxes also if they are part of doing business in Smyrna. What's to keep the brick and mortar businesses from going truck or moving somewhere else. Everyone needs to be on a level playing tax field. Also, why was a vote taken in such a rush? Why wasn't the council given the information and time to discuss this before a vote? Food trucks are fun but their needs to be a bit more discussion before implementation.
Lissa K.
4:27 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012
http://www.restaurant.org/nra_news_blog/2011/09/food-trucks-gaining-momentum-new-research-finds.cfm
http://mobile-cuisine.com/business/10-misconceptions-about-food-trucks/
Balcom
4:44 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012
Awesome post Lissa K. Very informative!
informyourself
10:13 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
If you research and educate yourselves on food trucks, some comments would prevent you from looking foolish.