The future of an unusual business venture in Quinte West will be in the hands of city council Monday.

A report from the city’s Corporate Finance Committee to be presented to council recommends denying a permit for the operation of JERKabago, a food trailer and chicken smoker in Carrying Place.

The business opened last year after council overturned a staff recommendation that suggested owner Joshua Blake find another location for his proposed food operation.

The finance committee supported the complaints of a small group of area neighbours who said the operation was an “eyesore” that is lowering property values.

A report to the committee noted neighbours had made a variety of complaints, including that the smoke from the operation was covering their house with grease, that the grass was uncut, and that the food was attracting animals.

The report stated the complaints were made to “a member of council” who forwarded them to staff.

Blake and his wife Saiqa Sheikh, co-owner of the facility, addressed the committee and reportedly agreed to make changes to appease the neighbours.

The report notes that by-law enforcement had responded to the complaint and found the grass had been cut. The operation also reportedly passed its inspections from the health unit.

The fire department reported meeting with Blake and discussing the smoke issue with him.

In an email to Inquinte.ca, Sheikh told the committee she and Blake had spoken to health officials who said they would be fine with the proposed solution of smoking the chicken offsite. 

She added no proof was brought forward of any allegations.

"No formal written complaints were brought forward, no pictures of the grease the neighbours had to scrape off of their window. No pictures of any excessive smoke to help us understand what all these concerns were," she wrote.

She wrote the she questioned the Deputy Mayor Jim Alyea and asked him why he chose to not approach them directly regarding the concerns he discussed with the neighbours.

"He made visits to the neighbours twice and told me that he drove by our business frequently," she stated. "I asked why he chose to not stop by, local council member to local business and he had nothing substantial to respond with, other then 'I went to city officials.'

"City officials are health and fire, who repeatedly passed all of their inspections with us."

A survey currently up at change.org calling on council to allow the operation to move forward notes that Blake has offered solutions to the concerns, including reportedly smoking his chicken at another location and transporting it to the food truck.

“Quinte West is in dire need of new cultural experiences,” the petition states. “The success of Jerkebago’s first year is testament to the support they have from residents.”

The finance committee voted to deny Blake’s request to operate the business in 2018 by a 4-3 vote with committee chair Coun. Karen Sharpe, Mayor Jim Harrison, deputy mayor Jim Alyea, and Coun. Don Kuntze voting to deny.

Councillors Duncan Armstrong, Bob Wannamaker and Michael Kotsovos voted against denying the request.

The finance committee report will be presented to council at its meeting Monday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Also on the agenda for the meeting are delegations from Wendy Warner of the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation to formally introduced Paula Mason, physician recruitment and retention co-ordinator, and Bob Clute from Habitat for Humanity.

The mayor and council will also formally recognize the Quinte Red Devils AAA minor peewee hockey team for winning the 2018 OMHA peewee AAA championship, and the Quinte West major peewee Hawks for winning the 2018 OMHA peewee A championship.