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Roeland Park council denies EcoShield’s 2025 peddler license after testimony that door-to-door solicitation continued after notice
Summary
The Roeland Park City Council voted against issuing a 2025 transient merchant (peddler) license to EcoShield Pest Solutions after staff said company representatives continued door-to-door solicitation after being told to stop; the motion to approve failed on roll call (motion fails 6–3).
Roeland Park’s City Council on June 2 declined to grant EcoShield Pest Solutions a peddler’s (transient merchant) license for 2025 after hearing that company representatives had continued door-to-door solicitation in the city after being told they needed a permit.
During the new-business item, staff explained that community services and the neighborhood services officer had repeatedly notified EcoShield representatives that a peddler’s permit was required, but company representatives nonetheless continued soliciting residences before the application reached the council. That practice was the basis for staff’s recommendation against immediate approval, the city said.
EcoShield representative (Freiberg) told the council he had been out of state recently and that a manager, Luke, had been the employee visiting Roeland Park. Freiberg said his company holds permits in neighboring municipalities and that he was trying to “do it the right way.” He added, “I did not. I have not stepped foot in Nolan Park,” when asked whether he or his employees had solicited in specific Park neighborhoods.
Council members repeatedly expressed concern about older residents and the potential for scams when door-to-door solicitations occur without clear notification and verification. “Our biggest concern is that we want to protect our residents and older people who sometimes are susceptible to scams,” one council member said during the questioning.
After discussion, Mayor Michael Popa called for a motion to approve the transient merchant license; the motion failed on a roll-call vote recorded in the meeting as “motion fails 6–3.” The city clerk’s roll call and the meeting record show a majority opposed, and staff noted the ordinance’s standards related to solicitation prior to completing licensing.
The council encouraged the company to reapply at a later date and noted that officers had the discretion to enforce the city code. The mayor thanked the EcoShield representative for coming to the meeting and said the company could return to the council in the future.
