The Hutchinson City Council unanimously voted to uphold the denial of North Star BBQ's operating permit during a hearing Tuesday.
During recent public hearing — the second after no decision was made during the first — Council Member Steve Cook attempted to cut through excessive detail with yes-and-no questions to North Star BBQ owner Peter Neubauer.
Cook said he wanted to concentrate on two main points: that Neubauer allegedly operated his food cart at a local brewery without a city-issued permit and that he allegedly did not complete a background interview with Hutchinson Police Chief Dan Hatten.
Neubauer's original argument was that the city's mobile food vendor ordinance did not specify that vendors could not operate on private property. Cook said Tuesday that the ordinance does not exempt private property from city limits.
"(The ordinance) says public property," Neubauer argued. "Why does every other city in the state of Minnesota mention private property in their (ordinances)?"
On the other half of the initial denial decision, Neubauer said he did not leave the background interview with Hatten in an uncivil manner. The council and Mayor Gary Forcier argued that the interview remained incomplete nonetheless.
"It's clear the chief had more questions, but the interview ended at your request," Cook said. "The chief has the right to get those questions answered."
Cook moved to uphold the denial and advised Neubauer he can apply for another permit in the future.
