To the editor,
“What’s the Matter with Kansas?” is a book every Kansan should read.
It tells about “values” and “down-home qualities in Kansas” and how we have gotten away from that politically.
Now, to my question: “What’s the Matter with Iola?”
I just read the article in the April 15 Iola Register and you will find the answer.
A 12-year-old sixth-grader here in Iola stands before the City Council members to ask them a question about transient vendor licenses in Iola.
She was operating a lemonade stand last spring at Iola’s Harvest Baptist Church parking lot, when she was paid a visit from the Iola police officers with an order to shut down because she did not have a vendor’s permit.
She would have to pay a $400 vendor’s license to keep the stand open compared to the $30 license fee for those who live or have a business inside Iola’s city limits.
Her father owns several rental houses in Iola and pays Iola property taxes. The money she was earning was to go to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
There is more about the conversation in the article, but you can read it yourself.
“What’s the Matter with Iola?” Just this kind of ridiculous “laws on the books” that make absolutely no sense.
There is a big difference between this girl’s activity and a professional food vendor.
City council, do your job and fix this antiquated law on the Iola books.
Sharon Kay Brower,
A Concerned Citizen,
Iola, Kan.
