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PCCS withdraws offer to run pool concession stand
After just one year of operating the concession stand at the Greencastle Aquatic Center, Putnam County Comprehensive Services (PCCS) has withdrawn a proposal to continue that relationship.
“After much consideration, PCCS has decided to withdraw a proposal to run the concession stand this summer,” PCCS Executive Director Andrew Ranck told the Park Board at its March meeting Thursday night at City Hall.
Apologizing “for the short notice,” Ranck told the board there were “too many hurdles, too many roadblocks for us.”
“It wasn’t a good fit this year,” Ranck said, indicating the possibility of losing the old Charlie’s site across from the Robe-Ann Park entrance as a storage location.
He said the main PCCS consumer who would be running the concession stand was not coming back and the lack of interest by others in the snack bar positions made the prospect of a second season “not worth it to us.”
After previously reporting that PCCS lost about $450 last season, Ranck noted Thursday night that the concession stand actually made a small profit in 2019, explaining that one deposit ended up in the wrong account.
Hopefully that experience illustrates that it is possible to turn a profit on concessions, Ranck said.
City Councilman Dave Murray was in the audience Thursday night and said he was “deeply disappointed” that PCCS was not continuing as operators of the snack bar, stressing “we have lost money forever in the concession stand.”
A long history of losing money at the concession stand prompted the experimental partnership between PCCS and the Park Department last summer. City officials were surprised to see it end after one year.
“It’s very disturbing that some of our most vulnerable people in the community are being pushed out of the way,” Murray said of the PCCS demise.
Park Board President Tim Trigg responded by saying, “We, quite frankly, wanted to have them back.”
“Who runs it now? Will the menu change?” Councilman Murray asked, alluding to the pared-down menu offered by PCCS that did not include fried foods like french fries.
Trigg said that remains up in the air.
“This kind of took us by surprise,” he said, “We’re not sure what we’re going to do at this moment.”
Whatever that is, both Ranck and Murray urged the board not to include fried foods at the concession stand.
“Don’t change the menu,” Murray said, alluding to the example set by PCCS that the stand could be profitable. “If you can’t balance the budget, don’t bring french fries back.”
At a previous Park Board meeting, members said the public had questioned them often about the elimination of french fries last summer.
“I would say, don’t do fried foods,” Ranck urged. “You’ll have food waste, and beyond french fries, you’ve got oil and machinery (costs). Once you get into grease, it’s a whole different game.
“I would not do it. You’ve got a captive audience who will buy what you have.”
He noted that Skittles were the best-selling candy last summer, while pretzels (microwaved for warmth) were the top-seller otherwise.
Park Director Rod Weinschenk said the group will keep its options open for now.
“I was under the understanding,” board member Cathy Merrell said, “that there was always an opportunity for the Park Department to take it back over in the future.”
Apparently that future is now.
Meanwhile, PCCS and the Park Department did agree on a contract to provide a maintenance worker for up to 20 hours per week over the period April 1-Oct. 31 at $15 an hour.
The worker will remain a PCCS employee so that his benefits aren’t affected by doing the seasonal job at the park and then returning to the PCCS fold the rest of the year.
The PCCS consumer involved has a driver’s license, Ranck said, which would potentially make him more valuable to the Park Department.
“He can drive,” Ranck said, “so he wouldn’t be married to Robe-Ann (Park). He can help you out in the other parks.”
Other business discussed at the two-hour meeting will be addressed in a later article.