Murphy – The town council meeting on May 2 included a lengthy debate about whether to allow food trucks to operate in the downtown business district, which extends a block or more in each direction from the four-way intersection of Hiwassee Street and Valley River Avenue.
While one local restaurant owner expressed opposition, several local residents – as well as one council member – spoke up in favor of the move.
Council member Keisha Dockery, owner of Black & White Market, said she hears customers express unsolicited support for food trucks. During the meeting, she shared the results of online surveys she conducted, as well as data she collected from various sources regarding the impact of food trucks in other North Carolina cities.
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Dockery said 10 surveys were given to local restaurants and eight were returned, with four responding “no” to allowing food trucks in the downtown business district. (And one of those owners was in the process of selling the restaurant and moving.) A second survey of the public indicated that 95 percent were in support of food trucks.
“Both polls indicate that to be against food trucks, in this case, is to be against the majority of public opinion,” she added.
Council member Frank Dickey interrupted Dockery repeatedly, and loudly, during the discussion, which was noted by several people attending the meeting. It “wasn’t the first time he had done this,” she added.
Dockery shared the results of a study showing that “Sylva, Asheville and Raleigh overcame their concerns over food trucks, which were driven largely by the fear of competition and misinformation.” In conclusion, the study revealed that forward thinking, innovation and compromise resulted in a benefit to all concerned in “the form of increased foot traffic, additional customers, an enriched food presentation, rising revenues, rise in employment opportunities and growth.”
While town council members ultimately decided against holding a public forum on whether to allow food trucks in the downtown business district, Murphy does support Tasty Tuesdays. The new food truck event, which started last week, takes place from 5-8 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays each month at the L&D Depot, which is outside of those boundaries.
The Cherokee Scout’s poll question on July 6 also demonstrated the diverse opinions of readers on this subject. To the question, “Should the Murphy Town Council allow food trucks to set up in the downtown business district?” 44 percent said yes, 49 percent answered no and 7 percent needed more information.