KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- The proposal to move the Kiwanis Farmers Market in Kirksville has created quite a buzz among Kirksville business owners and residents.
At Monday night’s Kirksville City Council meeting several citizens presented their views on the move. Steve Taylor, the owner of Steve’s Garden Deli doesn’t think the market should move from Elson to the city owned lot on Main Street. Taylor says he collected signatures from all but two downtown businesses requesting the Farmers Market to stay where it is.
Hidden Treasures owner Sherry Stacey and Farmers Market Vendor Jason Sandner also spoke at the meeting asking that it stay on Elson Street. Vendor Steve Salt says he sees both the advantages and disadvantages to the move.
“As far as affecting vendors economically, I don’t see it as either a disadvantage or advantage. It would be very nice though if we would have a permanent have that we don’t feel like we would get bumped from,” said Salt.
Salt says they're running out of time to promote the farmers market because it begins May 1st. He says they need to let the public and the vendors know of any changes right away.
“I think Farmers Market is a tremendous contributor to downtown. I mean what event, 27 weeks, more than half the year, could get 350-500 people out at 8:00 on a Saturday morning to the square?” said Salt.
Some of the advantages include more room (112 parking spots verse 37), not being on the street, and allowing vendors to come early and stay late wouldn’t be much of a problem.
Disadvantages include two blocks from the bathrooms, less shade, and patrons may have to cross Main Street to get to the market.
Whether or not the farmers market moves is now up to the council.
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