It’s now a done deal.
On Monday, Salmon Arm council approved a contract with Rosa’s Taco Stand to operate the concession stand at Blackburn Park.
The contract runs from Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2015.
Dale McTaggart, the city’s director of engineering and public works, told council that a call for proposals was sent out for people interested in running the concession, but no quotations were received before the closing date of July 21. The following week, he said, a quote was received from Rosa Guthrie.
A number of changes were made to her current contract. The lease fee per year was increased from $1,295 per year to $2,100. Also, the city used to pay the hydro, garbage, sewer and water services, but now Rosa’s will pay those. The taco stand has always paid for the propane and telecommunications services.
“So this is a significant increase in our revenue for the concession,” McTaggart told council.
Coun. Ivan Idzan asked if the concession space in the new building will be similar to the current space. McTaggart said it will be almost the same as the existing set-up, with no indoor seating.
He said the lease will run from spring to fall again, and the taco stand will be closed Sundays and holidays.
However, he said, “she has indicated if there’s a tournament and organizers ask her to be open, she will.”
Coun. Kevin Flynn asked how construction is progressing, and McTaggart said he hopes it will be complete by the end of November.
Although Rosa Guthrie has operated the taco stand in Blackburn Park between April and October for the past nine years, the city decided to put out a request for proposals for people interested in operating out of the new building. Guthrie was told that the city was looking for an expanded variety of foods, such as hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream.
In an Observer article on Aug. 3, she said she was not willing to change her menu, and the article prompted many comments from readers supporting her healthy brand of food.
She will now continue to do so, at least until 2015.