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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- After much discussion and debate over the Kiwanis Farmers Market in Kirksville changing locations, the market will stay on Elson Street.

At Monday night’s Kirksville City Council meeting the council voted to change some wording in the ordinance allowing the Kiwanis Club more involvement in management of vendors. 

Some members of the Kiwanis Club had wanted the farmers market to move to the city owned lot on Main Street between Harrison and Missouri.  Several minor issues involving vendors coming early and staying late caused the club to rethink the location.

“The Kiwanis club has the legal authority now by ordinance in essence to remove people from the farmers market that are not complying with their reasonable regulations and guidelines pertaining to the management of the farmers market,” said Kirksville Police Chief Jim Hughes.

Vendors must also grow their products within 50 miles of Kirksville to sell them at the farmers market.  The farmers market will begin May 1st and run each Saturday through October.

Also at Monday night’s meeting the council approved a resolution allowing the Rotary Club to place accomplishment signs recognizing Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith at the entryways into Kirksville on highways 63 and 6.  A committee will provide the funds to purchase and maintain the signs.

The council also approved a bid for bullet resistant vests for the Kirksville Police Department.  KPD will purchase eight tactical vests for the Special Response Team.  The city will provide $10,000 toward the vests and a federal grant will help pay the other nearly $5,000 to cover the remaining cost.

“Our primary issue with the vests are the soft body armor vest that the officers wear and this will have no impact on that, we will continue to replace those with our program replacement schedule,” said Hughes.

Hughes says the tactical vests are at or exceeding their life span and must be replaced soon.