Mountain Home Farmers Market changes again - Baxter Bulletin
There are more changes in store for the Mountain Home Farmers Market.
Beginning Saturday, and continuing until the end of the year, farmers market vendors will be back in the parking spaces next to the Baxter County Courthouse, Mayor David Osmon announced Thursday.
Vendors will sell on the east side of the courthouse on Baker Street, and any additional vendors will occupy the south side of the courthouse on Seventh Street, city officials said.
There will be no assigned vendor spaces and vendors should not occupy disabled parking spaces.
Baxter County Judge Joe Bodenhamer agreed to the change after Osmon spoke with him earlier this week.
Since the vendors will be closer together, customers will not have to walk as far and merchants will not have their businesses blocked or have their customers' parking spaces occupied, Osmon said.
The farmers market had operated next to the courthouse until February, when Bodenhamer asked the city to find a new arrangement on Wednesdays due to "dangerous and crowded conditions," according to a letter Bodenhamer had sent to Osmon.
The city then moved vendors across the street, in the parking spaces in front of businesses on the courthouse square.
"My issue was never the crowds, it was the safety issue," Bodenhamer told The Bulletin Thursday. "I just want it organized and safe."
When vendors had parked next to the courthouse, Bodenhamer said, he received phone calls every Wednesday from people complaining it was so crowded they almost got run over.
Even though he's let vendors back next to the courthouse, they've got to be organized, he said.
City officials are asking vendors to park at a right angle to the curb, without blocking the sidewalk or getting on the grass. With this arrangement, city officials expect Baker Street will be reduced to one lane of traffic during market operation.
The farmers market will continue to operate 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Beginning the first of January, the farmers' market will move to the city-owned lot behind the Baxter County Court Complex, which is in between Fourth and Fifth streets and South and Shiras streets.
Osmon said he chose not to move the farmers market to the city-owned lot now because of the turmoil the market has experienced this summer with the moves and the weather.
"They've had enough trauma this year," Osmon said.
Next year, the farmers market will begin at 7 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, but vendors may sell all day if they wish, according to the city. If spaces will be assigned next year, they will be on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the city. At this time, there will be no space rental charge.
The city, with the help of Lee Carlson, is applying for a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to build awn-ings, restrooms and install electric service.
Those with questions may call administrative secretary Tracy Tilley at 425-5943.
02 Sep, 2011--
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