GROVES — Food truck operators working in Groves, according to city policy, have to be on private property, obtain permission from the property owner, be permitted from the county and pay sales tax.

Other than that, City Manager D.E. Sosa said, Groves doesn’t have a whole lot of official regulation governing food trucks.

City Council members addressed the issue this week and seem headed for a vote on an official ordinance in March.

Councilman Kyle Hollier said, as a former business owner, he knows food trucks are a “cheap alternative.”

“Brick and mortar restaurants are paying taxes, insurance, rent and there’s overhead to operate a business to put together good food at a fair price,” Hollier said. “I want to protect our people who sell food. The food people have contacted me and numerous citizens don’t like it. It’s not wholesome looking to a lot of people and I wanted for us to discuss it. In my opinion, I think we ought to have restrictions similar to Nederland.”

Nederland’s current 12-month pilot program calls for food truck operation to take place in conjunction with a local brick-and-mortar special event. Temporary permits must be secured and cannot be given out more than once a month or 12 times a year. Trucks are not allowed to be set up overnight and must situate on private property.

Hollier said he wants to avoid extending food trucks throughout the city, saying, “I just drive through Port Arthur and see 10 to 15 food trucks, or whatever you want to call them, and it just looks bad.”

Hollier added he wants to help the current businesses in Groves.

“I’m wanting to help our city look the best it can within reason, and health and safety, that’s a big issue,” he said.

While no action was officially taken Monday during the Groves City Council meeting, a vote is expected to take place sometime in March.

Sosa, along with City Attorney James Black, are crafting an ordinance with regulations and rules for the operation of food trucks in Groves. A public hearing will take place ahead of a Council vote, allowing citizens a chance to express their concerns in front of their elected leaders.

Groves Mayor Brad Bailey said he sees both sides of the discussion.

“The brick and mortar pays taxes,” he said. “The food trucks are more versatile. But I think that they just work better in the bigger cities. In the small towns, there is a limited amount of businesses and restaurants, so I can see how it affects the local merchants.”

Councilman Sidney Badon expressed concern about sales tax on the food trucks if allowed in the city.

“How do you properly tax something, if (the food) is only $8-10?” he said. “I don’t know how you would regulate it, so I think we definitely need something to make sure that it doesn’t happen to an extent here.”

Bailey said he expects a rough draft of the ordinance to be completed within the next few weeks.

Currently, only one regular food truck is in operation within the Groves city limits. Pit Side BBQ and Catering, 3501 Main Ave., according to Sosa, will not be impacted by the new ordinance as a legal non-conformist, as long as the establishment is not moved.