Council has declined a request to waive or reduce the cost of a transient trader permit for a travelling grocery store based in Gowanstown.
Owner Jeannine Leutenegger said Fresh Xpress is a grocery store on wheels that services communities that do not have easy access to grocery stores, or seniors’ neighborhoods that are not within walking distance of a store.
She told Mapleton council at the June 23 meeting she has retrofitted a 16-foot former Purolator truck “to look like a grocery store.”
Leutenegger said Mapleton, with an annual $400 permit fee, is the most expensive of the municipalities her start-up business will be operating in, a list that includes Howick, South Bruce, Morris-Turnberry and Minto.
She said her local council in North Perth has agreed to look at bylaws currently in place there “and make it so that Fresh Xpress fits in better.
“I understand that there are fees involved in doing business. Unfortunately for me as a start-up business, these kind of fees have made it difficult for me to really get this service out there,” she stated in a letter to council.
Leutenegger said her current plans would involve travelling to Mapleton one day a week, including a trip to Rothsay, which has neither a grocery store nor a convenience store. However, she also said she plans to operate in Moorefield, which does have a grocery store.
Councillor Marlene Ottens said she saw no reason to waive or reduce the fee.
“I admire the concept, but to me $400 a year is eight dollars a week and I guess I’m concerned about the businesses that are already here and they’re paying taxes, way over $400 a year, and donating to charities …” she said.
Ottens expressed concern about allowing transient traders to “come in, get the business and leave and not contribute to the community in a way that brick and mortar businesses do.”
Leutenegger said, “I really want to stress that I’m going to focus on communities that don’t have a grocery store,” adding she does pay taxes on the gasoline used by her travelling store and the municipal fees are a barrier to her operation.
She pointed out Mapleton’s fees may be the highest, but she is also required to pay fees in other municipalities.
A motion to receive the delegation for information was approved unanimously.
However, Mayor Neil Driscoll urged council to pass a motion that would provide Leutenegger with a clear answer to her request.
“I too have the same concerns as councillor Ottens in that I believe that the structure of our bylaw is to protect our businesses that are paying taxes,” said councillor Lori Woodham.
Councillor Michael Martin, seconded by Woodham, moved that council cut the fee in half, to $200, “for one year only, just as a gesture for a start-up business.” The motion was defeated with just Martin in favour and Ottens, Woodham and Dennis Craven opposed.
