Fretting about food trucks

IOLA – Food trucks have gained popularity in the past couple years; however, when they show up in a small village or city it can affect the established businesses and that concern was brought up at a recent working committee meeting in Iola on March 25.
Village of Iola Board President Jennifer Schustek pointed out that there are so many places to eat in Iola and allowing food trucks would open the door for business to be taken away from those restaurants that are established and pay taxes into the village.
Currently food trucks do not need to register or obtain a permit at the village hall. Laura Krogwold, village clerk and treasurer, said she does not have an exact count of how many trucks made their way to Iola in 2024.
Other local municipalities have started putting together ordinances for food trucks that enter their city or village limits.
The City of Weyauwega established an ordinance last year, said Becky Loehrke, the Weyauwega city clerk. Their ordinance states that there is a yearly fee of $50 as well as a $7 fee for a background check and a $25 fee for a fire inspection.

Waupaca has a similar process, with a $50 yearly fee and proof of insurance, fire inspection and seller’s permit among having the necessary health certificates.
Jim Rasmussen, a village trustee, asked the question of whether or not the board has the right to dictate what happens on private property.
This issue was addressed in the City of Manawa, with food trucks allowed on private property. If the truck is on public property they would need to obtain a permit from the city.
A fire inspection is generally required of food trucks to ensure the truck is maintained and meets safety requirements.
Krogwold said the fire inspector, Chuck Fritz, is working with officials in Appleton to help create codes and standards for fire safety that a food truck would have to meet.
Mark McCoy, owner of Mark McCoy’s Flat Tracker Tap, said there is never a length of time where food isn’t being served within the village limits—between his bar, Crystal Café, the gas station, Thirsty Perch and 10La Corner Bar—there is always somewhere open to purchase food.
With businesses paying large sums of money in taxes, McCoy said it doesn’t seem fair to allow a food truck to come in for a small fee.
“You guys all know this. We pay probably $3,000 a year in taxes to be allowed to sell our food and everything,” said McCoy. “Plus our hoods and extinguishers and all that kind of stuff, so you look at that, then somebody can roll in with a trailer for ten bucks.”
Schustek agreed.
“I like to put out a flame before it overtakes,” Schustek said. “I don’t want to start talking about food trucks after we have five of them meeting down at Taylor Field.”
Schustek said Rick Meyers, a village trustee and chair of the ordinance committee, will be discussing and addressing food trucks in the near future.