Council approves Snow Cone Shack business license; council and applicant discuss power hookup and waste handling

The Wellsville City Council approved July 16 a business license for the Snow Cone Shack, a seasonal concession that has operated near the City Square in prior years and will move to the Wellsville Elementary Park area while Tabernacle renovations block its former location.

Travis Hayes, speaking for the applicant family, said the family bought the equipment from the prior operators and plans to staff the operation with family members and local teens during the summer. He told the council the Tabernacle location is unavailable this year because of renovations and that the family proposed siting the shack near the maintenance building at the elementary park.

Council and staff discussed how to provide power to the park. Scott, a city staff member, said Rocky Mountain Power offered two options: spend roughly $3,000 to hook power from a nearby pole to the maintenance building or transfer ownership of the pole to the city and install a pedestal or meter. Scott said the city's long‑term plan is to have power in the maintenance building to support food trucks and other events, but the immediate need is to provide power for the seasonal shack.

Council members discussed costs and logistics. One council member proposed that if the city accepted the pole from Rocky Mountain Power the city could place a meter on the pole or install a small pedestal as an interim step before running conduit to the maintenance building. "If the city took ownership of that pole from Rocky Mountain Power at no cost... running a meter right on the customer own pole or putting a small pedestal there at a small cost as a stepping stone would be great," the applicant said.

The council also discussed trash and cleanup logistics. A council member asked that the Snow Cone Shack bag and remove waste nightly to avoid littering and syrup accumulation; the applicant said past operators used the town square dumpster and the family would likely do the same if allowed.

The planning commission had recommended conditions including a pedestrian crossing on First South and a power hookup; the council discussed those conditions and confirmed that the business license approval was separate from any city work to provide permanent power to the maintenance building. A council member moved to approve the license with the understanding that garbage would be handled nightly; another council member seconded. The council voted in favor and approved the license.

Staff advised the applicants to coordinate with Scott on final logistics for power and dumpster use. Councilmembers said the city may pursue pole ownership and power to the maintenance building later as part of park development plans.