Hainesville board keeps weekly food-truck events while weighing permit fees

At a Hainesville Village Board meeting, a staff member said the village’s new SafeBuilt permitting system is now fully functional and can accept permanent applications, process payments and schedule inspections.

The report came during a broader discussion of the village’s food‑truck program. Board members agreed to keep the weekly food‑truck events at Village Hall, citing strong community interest and volunteer support. "We are officially up and going to the full extent," the staff member said about SafeBuilt, adding that staff will still accept applications in the office to help residents.

Trustees and staff discussed logistics: trucks currently operate Thursdays from about 4:30 to 7 p.m., volunteers have offered to help with setup, and organizers plan to expand outreach through social media. A resident‑survey distributed in the January newsletter returned mixed responses, and several residents contacted trustees asking that the weekly schedule remain unchanged.

The board also explored permit-fee options to improve reliability and cover administrative costs. Board members cited nearby municipalities’ practices: annual fees discussed ranged from $75 to $150, with a one‑time/day fee of about $25 also used in some towns. The board discussed a two‑tier approach—an annual permit for vendors that operate regularly and a one‑time fee for occasional vendors such as a truck at a private party.

Health‑department rules and insurance verification were noted as required steps: vendors would need to be permitted through the county health department and carry appropriate insurance. Several trustees said more discussion was needed on fee design and enforcement.

Trustee Abramson volunteered to lead follow‑up work with staff and community volunteers to finalize logistics and permit language. The board did not adopt an ordinance or set fees during the meeting; members said the topic will return for further discussion.