A Bargersville businessman plans to reopen what was, for decades, a staple in the Johnson County community.
The Bargersville Flea Market shuttered about a year ago after concerns about new solicitor fees and the cost to update facilities prompted its previous owner to shut it down abruptly.
Charlie Milam, a Bargersville man who owns several car dealerships in the Indianapolis area, has purchased the property, which is adjacent to his Bargersville car lot, Milam’s Used Cars. He plans to reopen the flea market July 5.
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For 49 years, the flea market was an attraction in the small but growing town, drawing thousands every summer from miles around, along with tourists from out of state. An estimated 250 vendors set up shop every weekend through the summer.
‘How is he going
to enforce that?’
The market, albeit a tourist attraction beloved by many, was not without its problems.
Many unlicensed food vendors sold tamales, baked goods, and other items at the market without permits from the town or the Johnson County Health Department, said Betsy Swearingen, health department director.
Vendors would sell food on card tables, or out of the trunk of their cars, without running water and sewer. All food vendors must sell from a stand that is connecting to water and sewer lines or from a licensed food truck to meet health codes, Swearingen said.
Litter, stolen goods, illegal transfers of firearms, drug use and shoplifting were other serious complaints against the market, she said.
The health department learned about Milam’s intention to reopen the flea market several weeks ago, but have not inspected the property or been informed of specific updates that have been made to address the department’s previous concerns, Swearingen said.
In addition, the health department wants to know whether Milam will make sure vendors are honest about what they are selling at the market, she said.
During surprise inspections of the market under previous ownership, the health department uncovered vendors who said they were selling goods, but were actually selling food.
“How is he going to enforce that? If someone who tells him they are selling jewelry turns up and sells tamales instead, what is he going to do? We haven’t heard about his contingency plan,” Swearingen said.
Milam was going to ask the Bargersville Town Council Tuesday to reconsider requiring flea market vendors to purchase solicitor permits to sell items at the market. But Julie Young, town manager, requested the council table the issue. She said after the meeting she and Joe Csikos, the town’s development director, planned to speak with Milam Wednesday, prior to a public conversation about the fees.
“We are just going over all the items that are needed for reopening. The development director will be there to go over planning and zoning. We will also convey any documentation for the property from county departments,” Young said.
The hope is to make Milam aware of the history of the flea market to avoid similar problems going forward, Young said. Specifics town officials will go over include previous health concerns and ordinances that apply to operating the flea market, she said.
“We are hoping it will be an asset to the community, and we hope it attracts folks to come to the community … Business changes that he makes are his decision,” Young said.
‘I’m going to run it right’
Though the health department is not in the loop yet, Milam said he has already made major improvements to the market, and plans to make several key changes to ensure the shopping experience is safer and cleaner than ever.
Going forward, no outside food vendors will be allowed, Milam said. He plans to eventually set up a licensed food stand to be run by friends who formerly owned a restaurant, he said.
He also has plans in place to address stolen goods and public safety. He is working to recruit a security guard with police experience to walk the aisles at the market to check for stolen merchandise and guard against shoplifters, Milam said.
Since market-goers park across State Road 135, he has also hired a crossing guard to help them cross the highway safely, he said.
Another goal of his is to make sure the property stays clean. Milam will require vendors to clean up after themselves when they leave and will hold them accountable if they do not, he said.
“We are going to run the place and run it right,” Milam said. “We are going to be more strict on the mess. We are going to keep it picked up and make sure everyone is safe.”
Milam plans to reopen the market regardless of whether the town changes its requirement for solicitor fees. But he had plans to ask the council to reconsider fees to lower the cost of entry for vendors.
The ordinance, which the town council passed in November 2018, requires all solicitors, transient merchants and peddlers to get a license from the town prior to doing business in Bargersville. The ordinance is meant to deter solicitors, transient merchants and peddlers from going door-to-door in Bargersville to sell items, an issue Bargersville residents have complained to town officials about, Young said in 2019.
Under the ordinance, each vendor has to pay the town $25 per day, $100 per week, $250 for six months, or $300 for a year, according to town documents. That fee is in addition to the $25 that Milam will charge to set up shop at the flea market, he said.
The town’s fee is an issue, Milam said, because some vendors may not be able to break even, let alone make a profit with a $50 cost of entry, he said.
The town does not charge a fee for vendors to set up at the Bargersville Farmers Market, so he wonders why flea market vendors are required to pay a one. In addition, other similar markets he would be competing with do not have fees that are as high, he said.
“I hope Bargersville realizes what they are doing. I don’t think it is right. There are flea markets all over that don’t charge,” Milam said.
The ordinance exempts vendors at events put on by nonprofits such as Bargersville Main Street and events held on town-owned property, such as the farmers market, from paying the solicitor fee, according to town documents.
While the issue is tabled for now, it may still come up at a future meeting. Whether the ordinance is changed will be up to the town council, Young said.
The council is set to meet again at 1 p.m. June 30, at the town hall, 24 N. Main Street, Bargersville.
