May 14, 2024

Restaurantrecs

Food, couldn't ask for more.

County kills effort to lower food truck fees

EDWARDSVILLE — A proposed $200 reduction in the price of Madison County Overall health Department inspection fees for meals vans was overwhelmingly voted down at Wednesday’s County Board assembly.

A resolution decreasing the fee to $175 from the present $375 experienced been postponed at the June assembly so board users could consider a closer seem at the proposal.

Proponents had claimed the reduced rate would encourage food items trucks and could draw readers into the place. Opponents mentioned a reduced price was unfair to regular “brick and mortar” eating places.

On Wednesday the board voted 21-3 towards the resolution, with one abstention.”No” voters involved Well being Office Chairman Mike Babcock, R-Bethalto, who originally launched the resolution.


Voting for the reduce fees were Invoice Meyer, R-Hamel, who participated by way of telephone Monthly bill Stoutenborough, D-Alton and Bruce Malone, D-Alton. Malone explained he was voting in favor mainly because he had designed a past dedication to do so, otherwise he would have also voted “no.”

Abstaining was Valerie Doucleff, R-Godfrey, who was also participating by telephone but explained she could not listen to a great deal of the dialogue. Associates Chris Dude, R-Maryville and Erica Conway-Harriss, R-Glen Carbon, have been absent.

The consensus was that reducing the cost for an estimated 14 foodstuff vehicles operating in the county was unfair to close to 1,400 common dining places that would nonetheless pay back the complete inspection price. The charge framework was instituted in 2018. Cellular foods trucks are regarded as Class 1 and Classification 2 institutions and inspected the same as other cafe and eateries.

Babcock said that extending the same reduction to all of the county’s restaurants would value the Well being Department about $280,000 annually.

Another difficulty was that, in some conditions, neighborhood municipalities these kinds of as Alton have their personal rate for food stuff vehicles. County board members reported these municipalities ought to take into consideration reducing or eradicating their fees just before seeking a reduction by the county.

The price reduction was proposed immediately after Alton officers and house owners of Alton’s new food truck park, Flock, came to a Madison County Overall health Section meeting inquiring the county to look at lessening the inspection price.

On Wednesday, Madison County Administrator Dave Tanzyus mentioned the county may possibly take into consideration some sort of regional licensing system for the foods vans at a afterwards day.

In other Health Department-similar company Wednesday, the board authorised expending up to $70,000 for vaccines from Sanofi Pasteur, a Chicago-based firm.

The board also accredited a number of things a $195,710 agreement to Byrne & Jones Construction of Bridgeton, Missouri, for parking ton enhancements at the county’s Wood River Facility. The job includes rebuilding the major push to the large parking great deal, the Overall health Department and Employment and Training parking plenty, and surfacing several handicapped areas on the key parking great deal, which is gravel.

Also approved had been fives different crisis appropriations to spend for non-budgeted products.

They provided $29,000 for the state’s attorney’s workplace to retain outside counsel for the judicial subcircuit courtroom obstacle licensed by the board $138,809.16 to the sheriff’s division to protect the price tag of a deputy who will work with the Illinois Division of Young children and Relatives Providers underneath a new grant method $22,007 for the Youngster Treatment Advocacy Center for iCloud file storage of forensic interviews $20,000 for a Relatives Violence Avoidance Coordinating Council grant and $121,110 to the facts technology department for Arctic Wolf safety monitoring services, which will be paid out of ARPA funds.

The board also approved settling a Workers’ Payment declare for $39,356.47 and acquire of excess liability, assets and earthquake insurance coverage coverage for $829,064 from many sellers.