NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council appeared to want to change the regulations on taxis in the city at some future point, but approved the transfer of Hutch Taxi to new owner Nathan Stesney.
City Clerk Karen Weltmer told the council she tried to implement a yearly inspection program, but doesn't have the legal support to do it.
"If there's nothing, there's no follow up after the initial, everybody knows cars break down, cars become unsafe," said council member Sara Bagwell. "What's the point?"
Weltner agreed that either the ordinance needs to be more strict or it needs removed, because there's no mechanism to make the taxi owners do anything.
"Our oversight is superficial, at best," said police chief Jeff Hooper. "Certainly, different companies maintain a different standard, because we have several different taxicab companies in town maintain a different standard. I think that's probably reflected in the business and whether they have repeat customers."
Vice Mayor John Richardson agreed that the issue should probably be addressed in the future, but no timeline was set for when they would look at the ordinance specifically.