Wichita Falls food truck operators will have to pay more for their required food inspections.
The City Council on Tuesday signed off on an interlocal cooperation contract between the city and the Texas Department of State Health Services for mobile food inspection services.
This became necessary because of a new Texas law on licensing and inspection that requires mobile food vendors to have a DSHS license.
Samantha Blair, environmental health administrator for the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District, told councilors vendors will be licensed for statewide operation, and the local district will no longer be able to issue permits.
She said under the rules now a food vendor in Wichita Falls would have to get a separate local permit to operate in a different jurisdiction. Under the changed rules, the statewide license covers them, but its cost is higher.
“If you’re not taking advantage of the benefit that you can go anywhere in the state, then it’s a little rough. I’ve seen some disappointment from local mobile food vendors along that front,” Blair said.
She said the typical current mobile food vendor annual permit in the local jurisdiction is $258. Under state licensing, it will be $1,200 to $1,500.
“So it’s a significant impact. But for those vendors that do travel, there is a significant benefit,” she said. “In our area with our general business owners here, there’s less benefit than in some other areas.”
The agreement the City Council passed Tuesday allows the state to reimburse the local district for conducting the inspections..
Blair said the $26, 801 reimbursement would allow her office to do about 67 to 100 inspections, which equates to about one inspection a year for local food truck operators. The state would be responsible for any inspections or complaints after that.
Mayor Tim Short said Wichita Falls was not responsible for the change.
“We didn’t do it. We have to live with it,” he said.
City Manager Jeffrey Jenkins also weighed in.
“This is one of the challenges where cities are facing a little bit more preemption of regulatory authority where Austin thinks it can do a better job than the city of Wichita Falls can do,” Jenkins said. “This is where our state leaders did not work with us very well.”
Blair said Wichita County has 74 active mobile food units that require annual licenses. That does not include temporary permits for events like fairs and special events.
She said the state provides information on the changes for vendors.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita Falls food trucks face higher fees to stay in business
Reporting by Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News / Wichita Falls Times Record News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News | USA TODAY Network
