Warner Robins, farmers’ market have dispute over location. What’s next for the market?

Warner Robins and a farmers’ market owner are in a dispute about where the farmers’ market can set up after the city opened another event in the same place the market usually operates.

Joshua Hess, owner of International City Farmers’ Market at Perkins Field on Watson Boulevard and Maple Street, accused the city of discrimination against him, and in addition to his concerns about where he can operate, he said the city hasn’t helped clean up dangerous trash on the grounds in a Facebook post Thursday.

Hess moved his vendors away from the original area because he said there were needles, broken glass, sharpened spoons and tree roots on the ground.

“They have tiny bits sticking out, so it’s just very dangerous for anyone who’s not on the steadiest of legs,” Hess said. “So we’ve shifted the market away from that spot.”

The market was originally in the corner of Perkins Field on Watson Boulevard and Maple Street. For the past few markets, Hess allowed vendors to expand farther into the center of the field. But that land is already being used, the city says.

Mayor LaRhonda Patrick told The Telegraph that center area is meant for Food Truck Roundup, a monthly city-led event.

“Issues never arose between the city and Mr. Hess until he decided to encroach upon land that we need for our third Thursday Food Truck Roundups,” Patrick said.

She also denied that the grounds were dirty or unsafe. She said city maintenance crews clean the park regularly and would have picked up any litter.

“We’ve never heard of any of that at all at Perkins Field,” Patrick said. “His position that he moved his barrier because those things were there doesn’t match up with fact ... it doesn’t match up with reality.”

But Hess said the boundary wasn’t made clear by the city.

“(A city official) came out to tell us that there was a boundary line we would need to stay on our side of, but she was unable to tell us where the line was,” Hess said. “There’s no drawing, there’s no spray paint, there was nothing we can use as a guideline ... a parking cone or anything.”

A map of the area drawn by the city does not include the farmers’ market on it. It only shows parking areas, local businesses and the Food Truck Roundup grounds. Hess said this could be deceiving to patrons.

Hess also said he feels city officials have been insensitive about a stutter he has, and his epilepsy.

A few markets were held where Hess’ vendors expanded onto the food truck area, Patrick said.

Then the Warner Robins Police Department got involved, according to Patrick and Hess.

Officers told Hess about a month ago that his vendors could not pass a certain line in the park.

Hess was “hostile” during that interaction, Patrick said.

Hess admitted, “I do get angry, but usually I’ve got a pretty good reason.”

In another incident, Hess found caution tape posted on the field Thursday, which designated the area he and his vendors could not cross.

“I went down to city hall and I tried to talk to the mayor and get some straight answers,” Hess said. “I was probably louder than I needed to be, but even if its their land and they can do whatever they want with it, it doesn’t mean they should.”

The mayor was in a board meeting when he arrived. She told The Telegraph Hess yelled, “caused a ruckus,” and stood in her parking space to wait for her to arrive.

“He never spoke to me, but he did go outside and stood in my parking spot, I was told, for an hour waiting for me there so that he could confront me,” Patrick said.

Officers were there, but did not file a report about this incident.

What’s next for the Warner Robins farmers’ market?

Hess said he might step down from ownership and have a vendor take over due to his health.

The city allows Hess to host his farmers’ market at no cost.

But Patrick told The Telegraph she is willing to rethink the use of the space if Hess speaks negatively about the city and crosses onto the city-run food truck area boundaries.

“We get nothing in return for allowing a space for these small business vendors. We support them. We need to make sure they always have a space to use. It doesn’t have to be with this individual who has now caused all this turmoil for us,” Patrick said. “So the likelihood of the City of Warner Robins going into an agreement with him at this point is slim to nothing.”

This story was originally published August 16, 2024 at 2:19 PM.