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Broken Bow council hears complaints about mobile food vendors on the Square
Summary
City officials and local business representatives told the council May 11 that mobile food vendors parked on the south side of the Square have left trash, run power cords across walkways and occupied spaces for extended periods; no permit changes were adopted at the meeting.
At its May 11 meeting, the Broken Bow City Council heard multiple complaints about mobile food vendors parked on the south side of the downtown Square, City Administrator Dan Knoell said.
Knoell told council members he had received reports that some vendors are leaving trash bags by the receptacles, running power cords across grass and sidewalks and occupying spaces for more than 24 hours. “From a tourist standpoint these vendors remove the view of the Square and eliminate available parking,” Knoell said to the council.
Park Foreman Steve Mogensen described maintenance problems he has encountered: full trash bags left beside containers that tip over and power cords strung across the Square’s grass that pose hazards to workers operating mowers and other equipment. Managing Editor Mona Weatherly of the Custer County Chief said the vendors’ presence has raised worries about competition with downtown businesses and pedestrian safety. Resident Jason Baum expressed similar concerns that food trucks can pull customers away from local taxable businesses.
Police Chief Steve Scott told the council the parking direction for the spaces “is probably not correct” but that the policy has not been enforced because the city cannot easily distinguish who may or may not park there under current rules. Joyce Richardson noted the city raised the mobile food vendor permit fee in 2019, saying vendors do not pay property taxes, and she cautioned that food trucks are growing in popularity and should not be barred from downtown activity.
Mayor Rod Sonnichsen asked Richardson whether revising the mobile food vendor permit to limit vendors to special events would be reasonable; Richardson said vendors are increasingly popular and suggested welcoming them more than one day a week. The council did not propose or vote on any ordinance or permit change at the May 11 meeting.
The discussion provided council members and staff with a clearer list of operational complaints—trash, power-cord hazards, extended parking and competition with brick-and-mortar businesses—but no formal action was taken. Any changes to permitting, enforcement or parking rules would require a future agenda item and a formal motion by the council.
