Will Stricter Permits Drive Food Trucks Out of Spring Hill?

Issue #198

02 Sep

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

⛅️ Columbia Weather - Partly cloudy with a high of 88

📰 Will Stricter Permits Drive Food Trucks Out of Spring Hill?

💫 Meteor Seen Passing Over Tri-Cities area in Northeast TN

🪕 Ryman Announces Dates For Free Sidewalk Sessions

🛍 Save Big on These Deals From Amazon’s Labor Day Sale!

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

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🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

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Monday, September 2nd

Tuesday, September 3rd

Wednesday, September 4th

Thursday, September 5th

Friday, September 6th

Saturday, September 7th

Will Stricter Permits Drive Food Trucks Out of Spring Hill?

Credit: GiasKitchentn on Facebook/Instagram

The City of Spring Hill, TN, has recently begun enforcing a stricter interpretation of Temporary Use Permits (TUPs), impacting many local businesses, including food trucks. On August 23rd, food truck operators were informed by the Court Clerk that an additional permit, the TUP, is required for them to operate legally in the city. This revelation surprised many, as the enforcement of TUP requirements had not been consistently communicated in the past. To clarify the rules, a visit to the Spring Hill Planning and Zoning Department revealed that TUPs are mandated under the city’s Unified Development Code (UDC) for all temporary operations, including those at farmers markets, schools, private events, etc.

According to the UDC, TUP applications must be filed with the Planning Department, which has 30 days to make a decision. The process requires multiple documents, including permission from property owners, and a separate TUP is needed for each location where the business plans to operate. Additionally, each application comes with a $200 fee, with no guarantee of approval. This requirement applies universally, meaning every location, whether private or public, demands a separate permit, significantly increasing the operational costs for food truck owners.

Food truck operators expressed frustration as they had been receiving conflicting information from various city employees and agencies over the past four years, leading many to unknowingly operate without the necessary permits. This stricter enforcement could result in some food trucks needing to submit approximately 20 TUP applications per year, amounting to about $4,000 annually, on top of existing taxes and permits. The financial burden poses a severe challenge, particularly in a soft economy where many food trucks are already struggling to survive.

In response, food truck owners plan to voice their concerns at the next Board of Mayor and Alderman (BOMA) meeting on September 3rd at 6:00pm in the courtroom at City Hall. They are urging the community to support their cause by attending the meeting, sharing the information, or contacting local officials. Without changes to the current permit requirements, many operators may be forced to limit their services, skip community events, or stop operating in Spring Hill altogether, threatening the future of these small businesses.

To read more, check out The Spice is Right’s Facebook Post here. Tyler Adams commented this 5 days ago:

I talked to the mayor in person this evening. He expressed his support for food trucks, calling them “awesome”, and saying he does not support the new and more onerous verbiage that’s been circulating in recent days.

I have confidence we are going to fix this and fix it in a reasonable way. During our chat, I expressed how the world spins from a neighborhood and neighborhood truck organizer’s perspective, expressing the need for annual permits and not per-event licensing.

Keep emailing and calling - it’s working. Cheers!

Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 3rd at 6 PM
Spring Hill City Hall (courtroom)

Meteor Seen Passing Over Tri-Cities area in Northeast TN

Glenn Richard Sparks posted this video on Facebook on August 30th which has since gone viral. Here’s what he said:

“I just saw the most amazing meteor of my life here in Tennessee! This video was taken from I 40 eastbound just before the I 81 split, and it looks like it was roughly over Greenville Tennessee. It lit up the sky for over 10 seconds with multiple explosions along the way. Absolutely gorgeous!”

Go here to see another video captured by a home security camera and to learn a bit more about what happens when meteors hit the earth’s atmosphere.

Ryman Announces Dates For Free Sidewalk Sessions

The Ryman Auditorium is excited to announce the return of its popular Sidewalk Session series this fall, starting Thursday, Sept. 5. The series will feature live performances by emerging artists on the PNC Plaza for nine consecutive weeks. These pre-show events are free, open to the public, and include an outdoor bar with drinks, plus special giveaways from the newly expanded Ryman Shop.

All are welcome to enjoy the live music, whether attending a ticketed Ryman concert or simply looking for free entertainment in downtown Nashville. Each week, the festivities will begin approximately two hours before Ryman’s ticketed concerts, offering guests a lively pre-show experience. The Ryman Shop will also be open, featuring unique merchandise from Nashville’s legendary venue.

Save Big on These Deals From Amazon’s Labor Day Sale!

Now’s the time to snag some serious savings on Amazon!

Here are some of the awesome deals we found:

40% off Apple iPad 

*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Monday, September 2nd

Alyssa Hart, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM

Tuesday, September 3rd

Jay Hoppus, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM

Wednesday, September 4th

Makayla Lynn, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM

Thursday, September 5th

Marty Raybon, The Mulehouse, 5:30-9 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito's Spring Hill, 6-9 PM
Justen Harden, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM
Neal Pennington, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM

Friday, September 6th

The Bird & The Bear, Buck & Board, 6-9 PM
Summer Joy, Ransom Spirits and Provisions, 7 PM
November Blue, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Scott Southworth & The Honky Tonk Anonymous Band, Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM
Golden Soul Review, Grinder's Switch, 7-9 PM
Smokin' Peas, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, September 7th

Crossbridges, Amber Falls Winery, 3-7 PM
TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 4-7 PM
Kamber, Buck & Board, 5:30-8:30 PM
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 Pm
Herrick, Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM
Jesse Kramer & The Hwy 12 Band, The Rebel, 7:30 PM
8-Track, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, September 8th

TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM
John Salaway, Amber Falls Winery, 1-5 PM
Brian & Aletha Golden, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM

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