by Madison White Franks
KILMARNOCK—Following a public hearing Monday, the Kilmarnock town council authorized a conditional use permit for Terrie’s Place.
Planning and zoning director Marshall Sebra said Terrie Alderks, owner of Terrie’s Place, recently terminated her lease with the property owner at 90 North Main Street and plans to place her food trailer in the gravel parking lot next to Farm and Home Supply at 469 North Main Street, Kilmarnock.
Following a hearing in March, the town planning commission recommended council approve the permit, requiring a separate water and sewer meter which would be for the trailer itself, said Sebra.
At the commission meeting, Alderks said she planned to place a portable bathroom facility for patrons and she has always had a place for diners to wash their hands.
On Monday, council member Betsy Crowther questioned the use of a porta-potty.
“I just want to move and have the exact same operation I had before,” said Alderks. “The issue of the bathroom came up was due to people going to wash their hands at the Chinese restaurant…in the meantime, no one in the town or county requires a portable bathroom for food trucks.”
“The state law is that if you have a trailer that is walked up to, you are not required to have a bathroom,” said Steve Billmyer, who operates Stevie’s Ice Cream on the same parking lot.
Fletcher Brown indicated folks would be welcome to use the restroom facilities in Farm and Home Supply.
In 2015, the commission spent seven months working on an ordinance addressing food trucks, said vice-mayor Rebecca Nunn.
“One of the things that our ordinance says is wheels. Even though you are a restaurant, we need to look at what our ordinance says,” she said.
Alderks’ husband, Randy Alderks, said they could remove the wheels.
Confusion arose when determining what category Terrie’s Place falls under, a food truck, restaurant, or concession stand.
Terrie’s Place is categorized as a walk-up food concession stand versus a food truck, said town manager Tom Saunders.
Nunn moved to grant the permit in accordance with the town’s zoning laws without a portable restroom facility. Dr. Curtis Smith seconded the motion and it passed unanimously, 6-0, with support from Keith Butler, Crowther, Emerson Gravatt, Michael Sutherland, Nunn and Smith.
Other items
During the administration and finance committee report, the council voted to authorize the town staff to advertise a May public hearing on a proposed $4,800,639 town budget for 2018-19. Nunn moved to allow the staff to advertise and Crowther seconded the motion and it passed unanimously, 6-0. The hearing will be at 7 p.m. May 21.
Kilmarnock Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD) vice president and captain Ray Lewis thanked council for a contribution to the fire department. The KVFD will try to be more conscientious with informing council of the use of funds, he said.
President Ryan Gordon and fire chief Roy Hall indicated the need for a new thermal imaging camera and asked council to consider helping with the cost, which is $5,500.
“Aside from fire trucks and turnout gear, the thermal imaging camera is the most valuable piece of equipment to us,” said Gordon.
The camera helps firemen find hotspots within the walls of homes during a house fire and to even find residents who may be in the home.
Dr. Smith asked about the life expectancy of these types of cameras and Hall said typically 10 to 15 years. A previous camera lasted 12 years, added Gordon.
No action was taken on the request.
Council also proclaimed Saturday, April 21, as “Lancaster High School Boys Basketball Day.”
Nunn said the county is making progress to make sure a burned house gets demolished at 15860 Mary Ball Road. She has gotten questions from citizens regarding this matter but there is a process that has to be followed before the house can be bulldozed.
