Swain County OKs mobile food vending policy for pool and recreation sites

Swain County commissioners approved a mobile food vending policy and accompanying application on July 1, 2025, clearing the way for regulated food-truck vending at county recreation facilities, starting with the county pool.

The policy, presented by Recreation Department staff, requires prospective vendors to hold a permit from the county health department before applying, limits vending locations to places designated by the county (initially the pool area), and sets a 25% daily-fee on vendor proceeds that will go to the county. Recreation staff said the county would create schedules and post policies and hours for vendors.

The policy was approved after a motion and second; the board chair called for a voice vote and the motion passed. Commissioner David Madeline moved for approval. The motion text on the record was to approve the mobile food vending policy and the mobile food vending application; the seconder was not identified in the transcript.

Recreation Department staff also reviewed program statistics during the presentation. Highlights included 119 youth basketball participants with 28 volunteers; 121 flag-football participants with 24 volunteers; 110 registered youth football players with 22 volunteers; and 35 children registered for summer swim lessons. The pool reported 111 memberships and 61 evening pool-party reservations that generated $8,875 in reservation revenue. Recreation staff reported pool-related revenue from May 23 to June 30 of $31,945.75 and concession revenue of $1,024.35; fiscal-year operating transactions for the department totaled $176,491.54, described in the presentation as a surplus of $39,491.54 compared with last year’s budgeted revenue. Total Recreation Department expenditures were reported as $824,182.74, which staff said include grants and capital projects and are not solely operating costs.

Recreation staff said the policy will be a work in progress: the county will accept vendor applications after the policy is final and will develop procedures and schedules for games and other events. Staff noted the high school had discussed vendor arrangements for football games; those discussions included a proposed revenue split the school indicated as 10% to the school and 15% to the county when the total daily fees reached 25%. The policy approved at the meeting applies immediately to the county pool and related recreation facilities as described in the county application packet.

The board did not revise the percentage or require additional details beyond the application and health-department permit requirement at this meeting; staff said they will return with any needed refinements.

Commissioners asked no substantive amendments to the policy during the meeting, and staff said they would accept vendor interest immediately and begin scheduling once the policy was in effect.