PINEDALE – The Pinedale Town Council approved the third and final reading of Ordinance 628 at its meeting Monday night, clearing the path for food trucks in Pinedale.

Ordinance 628 covers “Food Vendors” in Pinedale and includes food stands, food trucks/trailers and ice-cream trucks. It was approved, 4-1, with councilman Jim Brost opposed.

Food trucks

According to the ordinance, “Food Stands and/or Food Trucks/Trailers may only be operated on public or private property zoned C-1 or C-2, and then only with written permission, and may not be operated upon any public sidewalk, street, alley or right-of-way unless otherwise allowed. Written permission of the owner of the public or private property where operations are being maintained shall be in the possession of the operator at all times.”

In addition, “All persons conducting food sales from Food Stands and/or Food Trucks/Trailers will be responsible for maintaining the sidewalk, street or premises adjacent to such Food Stands and/or Food Trucks/Trailers free from any rubbish, refuse and/or liquid waste resulting from use of the premises. Rubbish, refuse and/or liquid waste must be disposed of in a proper manner. Operations shall not impede traffic or parking.”

Ice-cream trucks

And for ice-cream trucks, “Ice Cream Trucks may be operated on public or private property zoned C-1 or C-2 with written permission. Written permission of the owner of the public or private property where operations are being maintained shall be in the possession of the operator at all times.

“Ice Cream Trucks may operate for sales to the public from all public streets, alleys and rights-of-way except for Pine Street for no more than 15 minutes before relocating to another location not less than one block from the previous location. When operating from public streets, alleys and rights-of-way, an Ice Cream Truck must obey all State and Town statutes and ordinances. Ice Cream Trucks may not operate on any other property owned by the Town unless otherwise allowed.”

Permit costs

For all operators falling under the ordinance, a permit will be required and the associated fee will depend on the length of time.

For a full year, a permit will cost $1,200. For 60 days, it will be $700. Thirty days will cost $350. Two weeks will cost $200. One week is $100. And a daily permit will cost $25.

During discussion, town attorney Ed Wood reminded the council that the fees would also “apply to the little snowcone down here, too.”

“That little stand is going to pay also, just to make everybody aware,” Wood said.

The council took issue with that, since it’s already presumably paying rent for the space it uses on the corner lot of private property and that it’s not mobile.

“In my mind, I was always thinking vehicles,” mayor Bob Jones said, adding that “if it’s got wheels, it’s a truck or trailer.”

“If they want to move the snowcone place, it’s not a quick undertaking,” echoed councilman Tyler Swafford.

The council ultimately decided to charge “food stands” an annual fee of $10 and passed the resolution established all fees unanimously.

In other news from the meeting:

• The council voted unanimously to spend up to $5,700 for five new “meter pits.”
• The council unanimously approved $3,760 for 32 new ultraviolet bulbs and four brushes to be used at the town’s sewer treatment facility.
• The council voted to approve up to $8,000 for the purchase of road salt for the upcoming winter.
• In the letters sent a few months ago to property owners who had “lawn faucets” that were neither metered nor “backflow” protected, the town threatened to turn off water supplies if the faucets weren’t removed and the water lines capped by the beginning of September.

“They needed to be removed by Sept. 1,” said town engineer Hayley Ruland. “But hardly any of them will be removed by that date just because of contractor availability.”

The council voted to extend the deadline to May 15, 2018, which is about 30 days from the traditional date that digging can resume.

“If you can’t get it done in the next eight months, you’re probably not trying very hard,” Jones said.

• The council voted unanimously to reappoint Gary Heuck to the Pinedale Travel and Tourism Commission.
• After a harrowing experience at this year’s fireworks display and a follow-up request by Sublette County Unified Fire Chief Shad Cooper, the council voted to enter into contract with Fireworks West Internationale for next year's Fourth of July fireworks show in the amount of $9,916.

“He will deliver and do the fireworks display, so the fire department is out of the fireworks business,” Jones said.

The cost of the package is $11,500, but with a discount of $1,584 for “unfired 5-inch shells in the 2017 show.”

The next Pinedale Town Council meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11, at the Pinedale Library.