Apollo officials considering food truck regulations

Given the rising popularity of food trucks, Apollo Council plans to adopt an ordinance regulating food trucks during its Aug. 26 meeting.

Council voted in favor of the ordinance last month and will cast its final vote later this month.

“Food trucks have been booming and with the covid-19 pandemic, food truck rallies gave people something to do,” said borough Councilwoman Jen Mullins, who has organized those rallies in Apollo.

The borough has nothing on its books governing how food trucks come and go in the town, she said.

“Borough Council wants food trucks regulated to be fair to our current businesses and for public safety,” she said. “We don’t want any Joe Schmoe saying he has a food truck and putting out a shingle.”

The ordinance was spurred by the success of Wheel Good Wednesday, a food truck rally held twice a month in the borough and vendors who drive into town and informally set up.

While the food trucks are now regulated for Wheel Good Wednesdays, council wants to formally pass regulations for all food trucks.

Michelle Beck, a borough councilwoman who has been working on the food truck regulations, said that when the ordinance passes, new food truck operators will have to come to the borough office to secure a permit.

Fees are based on what the borough currently charges food trucks for Wheel Good Wednesdays: A food truck parked for three hours will pay $75 for three hours, four to five hours $100 and daily $200.

Vendors will be required to have the proper health inspection certification, driver’s license and liability insurance, Beck said.

According to the ordinance, food trucks must operate at least 50 feet from homes and only between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Given the borough’s narrow streets, a food truck will not be permitted to park on borough streets. The borough will assign a space for the vendors, Beck said, likely in the town plaza and other off-road areas.