August 9, 2020 – West Bend, WI – The discussion this week took about 10 minutes and then the West Bend Plan Commission voted unanimously in favor of allowing food trucks at the new Fleet Farm, 3815 W. Washington Street, in West Bend.
One woman, Kim Smith from Tenth Avenue, spoke during the meeting and asked a number of pertinent questions including the number of food trucks allowed in the parking lot (Answer: one at a time but could be in rotation weekly).
How would it be a benefit to the City of West Bend? “So the food truck vendors really don’t have a stake in the community? Is it going to be fly-by-night people,” she asked.
The mic for Jim Reinke with the City was not working properly and it will be/was difficult to understand.
Mike Staral from the Plan Commission. “Menards has food trucks too and it has been a homerun so far,” he said. “Everybody I talk to loves going there. It’s just another place to stop.”
Smith mentioned downtown during the Farmers’ Market and how it is “pitiful” after the market. “The place is a mess,” she said. “Usually there are three food trucks and the garbage bins are overflowing and there’s garbage floating all over the street. Who is going to be responsible for keeping it up and who will be responsible for sanitation?”
Reinke said it would be up to Fleet Farm to keep the area clean.
The inspection of the food truck would be up to Washington County Health Department.
The food trucks will operate weekly during normal business hours of Fleet Farm including Monday – Saturday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the northeast corner of parking.
The vendors would be responsible for cleanup.
The item passed with a unanimous vote from Plan Commission.
No word yet when Fleet Farm will start hosting food trucks.
So far, I’m not impressed. I was excited about the new taco truck that will be there on Friday’s. The food was mediocre and overpriced.