Livingston Approves Food Truck Ordinance

Livingston Aldermen approved an ordinance Monday allowing food trucks in the city for the first time.

Trucks can setup Thursday and Friday in the first and third weeks of each month. Mayor Curtis Hayes said the new policy was designed to give food trucks a new opportunity in the city without taking away from local restaurants. Alderman David Langford said he thinks food trucks do not pose such a danger and should be less restricted in their hours.

“These folks (are) just trying to make a dollar,” Langford said. “I mean, I know what they’re talking about. I don’t have a problem with them being seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day if they want to. I mean, you go to Cookeville, they’re on every corner down there.”

Hayes said it is important to remember that the board is free to amend the ordinance however they see fit if food trucks need more days to succeed. Hayes said the city will charge food trucks $150 for a permit to operate there.

“Help our locals and maybe get some tourism dollars for folks coming and following this food truck,” Hayes said.

Vice-Mayor Ken Dodson said if they do not increase the amount of days food trucks are permitted, the new board should consider changing the ordinance so food trucks are permitted on the same day each week to keep things simpler.

“So we don’t have to remember are we in the first week, the second week, the third,” Dodson said. “If you always had it on Friday, you know it’s food truck Friday.”

In other business, the board approved a new sign ordinance. City Attorney Andre Greppin said loosens content-based restrictions to make the ordinance more enforceable and compliant with the first amendment.

The board also approved two separate bids for some $16,000 each, one for a ballpark utility vehicle and the other for a painting job on the former Twin Lakes building on S Church St. owned by the city.

After serving in his final board of aldermen meeting as mayor, Hayes spoke to the board and told them that it has been a great pleasure to serve the city. Hayes said he wanted to publicly thank everyone who has helped him along the way.

“I’ve always done the best job that I possibly could putting Livingston’s best foot forward, and that’s always been my goal,” Hayes said. “And I think that we’ve came a long ways and I think that, I pray we continue to go the same way.”

Alderman Bill Linder said it has been an honor sitting on the board with Hayes and Vice-Mayor Ken Dodson since Linder joined roughly ten years ago.

“Eight have been with Ken (Dodson),” Linder said. “I really appreciate the opportunity to work with you two.”