Minocqua town supervisors are on board for The Picnic Spot to again lease the lower level of the Torpy Park bandshell to operate a deli serving food and soda to beach goers and others at the downtown park.
Sue Perron of Park Falls owns The Picnic Spot. So far supervisors have not heard any complaints about her business operating on town-owned property, they said. “Everything we have been hearing is that it’s been a good service,” said Town Chairman Mark Hartzheim at Tuesday’s board meeting. “It’s also been a real positive down there from the town office standpoint.”
Last May when the rental request first came to the board, Hartzheim had opposed it for fear it would cut into the business of downtown restaurants. Supervisor Sue Heil echoed Hartzheim’s recent comments, “I have heard nothing but good this year on what you’re doing there.” As an example, she said, The Picnic Spot even stocks diapers for park users with infants and toddlers. Supervisor Billy Fried called the Picnic Spot “an asset” for park users. This was the first year that the lower level has been rented to a private enterprise for food serving. A few non-profits have tried similar services there, but they never lasted long.
The Picnic Spot’s weekly rent is $100, which covers electrical, water and refuse service. Town officials are reviewing that arrangement. But Jennings thought the town and Picnic Spot should have one more year of operation before making any major changes. Next year’s lease would run from May 25 to Sept. 5. The board will take up the 2017 lease at their next meeting for formal action. Kristine Hawn, Perron’s daughter-in-law, said they don’t have plans to extend it beyond Sept. 5 either this year or next. She did ask that the board strike the clause that non-profits renting the park have right of first refusal for selling food. “We haven’t had any issue with any of the non-profits,” Hawn said. “We have actually really enjoyed working with all the events.”
She said they have donated the deli profits to the non-profit groups on those days. Fried urged coordination between the affected parties, adding that it should be a town decision when it comes to any dispute on food service. The new lease will reflect that the town office has final say on whether The Picnic Spot can be forced to closed when a non-profit group rents the park. But the intent is to encourage coordination, the board said. Hawn said they shop the Minocqua Farmer’s Market on Mondays for ingredients to serve at the deli. She added they would like to add hot dogs and ice cream bars to next year’s menu. Heil pointed out that the current rental agreement already allows frozen treats. Supervisor Bryan Jennings said the board should consider upgrading the bandshell structure when budget preparations come around.
