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Board approves Visit Palatka proposal for courthouse farmers market starting September
Summary
Visit Palatka presented a plan to hold a twice-monthly farmers market at the Putnam County Courthouse; the board approved the proposal with conditions on insurance and cleanup.
The Putnam County Board of County Commissioners voted July 22 to approve Visit Palatka's proposal to host a farmers market on the Putnam County Courthouse grounds beginning in September and running through May.
Gabriel Gunn, director with Visit Palatka, told commissioners the market would operate from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of each month (no December event), with an initial layout of roughly 58 vendor booths (10-by-10 footprints), food trucks, portable restrooms, and space for nonprofits and community groups. The proposal includes a local preference for vendors and a plan to staff the event using the county-wide volunteer portal.
Gunn said Visit Palatka intends to absorb startup costs, including a market manager salary, and estimated vendor fees of $15 for nonprofits, $30 for regular vendors and $75 for food trucks per event during the first year; any revenue generated would be reinvested in promoting the market. She said Visit Palatka would not charge the Clerk of Courts for use of the courthouse space during the first year.
County staff said they have discussed site protection measures to avoid damage to trees and monuments; county parks and facilities staff agreed on on-site measures and cleanup obligations. Commissioner Newbold urged Visit Palatka to prepare a parking and traffic-control plan, citing expected growth and Highway 17 visibility; county staff and the presenter said they would coordinate with the contractor responsible for regular grounds maintenance.
Formal action: Commissioner Harvey moved approval; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The board recorded that the county would be named on Visit Palatka's insurance policy, and that the market organizer would return the property to its prior condition after each event.
What happens next: Visit Palatka asked for permission to "go live" with marketing and a website posting; county staff said they would post a county-hosted event page if commissioners wished. The market manager will finalize vendor recruitment, parking plans and on-site protections ahead of the September launch.
