The Mountain Home City Council will convene Thursday to address a range of issues, including a final vote on revised food truck regulations, three rezoning requests, and updates to city planning fees. The meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. at City Hall, located at 720 Hickory Street.
The food truck ordinance, up for its third and final reading, has undergone extensive deliberation since the spring, including two workshops and two previous council meetings. If adopted, the ordinance will consolidate two existing 2020 measures under one framework, establishing long-term guidelines for food trucks, mobile vendors, and food truck courts. Among the key provisions, the ordinance maintains the city's rule that food trucks may operate at a single site for a maximum of 30 days. However, an additional clause would require trucks to leave the property for at least three days once the 30-day limit is reached. According to Code Enforcement Officer Todd Pease, this provision is intended to standardize enforcement and discourage prolonged stays.
The ordinance also outlines clear distinctions between food trucks, which sell food and beverages, and mobile vendors, which specialize in other products. Food truck courts will remain exclusive to food trucks under these rules, with restrictions including a prohibition on permanent porches, decks, or customer platforms taller than 36 inches. If approved, the new rules will go into effect on October 4.
One of the three rezonings on the agenda involves a proposal to reclassify 6.07 acres at the end of Parkway Drive, northwest of The Grand, from R-3 to R-4. The land, owned by the Thom E. Embach Gift Trust, is intended for Iron Wheel Mountain Home, a 60-unit apartment complex. Preliminary plans submitted by Phillip Lewis Engineering include three three-story buildings, a clubhouse, and 101 parking spaces. The petition claims the current R-3 zoning is no longer viable for the property and follows a similar rezoning approved in August for the Park West Apartments.
Another rezoning request comes from the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas, which seeks to rezone a lot at Highland Parkway and Highland Circle from C-2 to C-2A. This change would accommodate crop farming and greenhouse operations, which the food bank's petition describes as vital to community health and welfare. Food Bank CEO Jeff Quick is expected to present the request.
West Plains Bank and Trust Company will also submit a rezoning petition to change a lot at 1377 U.S. Highway 62B from C-2 to C-4. All three rezonings include emergency clauses and are set to take effect immediately upon approval.
Another agenda item involves a request from Public Works Director Steve Hill for approval of a $565,000 RAMVAC HX-12 hydro excavator, financed through Arvest Bank at 5% interest over five years. The equipment is designed to use pressurized water and a vacuum system to safely excavate around underground utilities. Payment terms include an $8,122 monthly installment and a $180,000 balloon payment guaranteed by a seller buyback agreement with River City Hydraulics of Sherwood, Arkansas. This proposal comes just weeks after the council approved higher water and sewer rates for city residents.
Additionally, City Clerk Scott Liles will present a proposal to update planning-related fees, many of which have not changed since 1990. The suggested increases would raise fees for certain services, such as lot splits and subdivision plats, while others, including fees for annexations, rezonings, and variances, would remain the same.
The council will also review an updated personnel handbook from Human Resources Director Toni Taylor. Proposed changes include narrowing shift differential pay to specific positions, making unused personal leave expire at the year’s end, and clarifying military leave policies.
The meeting will also feature standard agenda items, such as committee reports, bank reconciliations, and the approval of minutes from the September 3 meeting. Thursday’s proceedings will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube by XL7-TV.