| No grills on Sunset Veranda |
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Health Department enforces new requirements
ann.dickerson@bigcanoenews.com When Amenities Director Jim Story saw the weather forecast for Friday and Saturday, April 17-18, he rejoiced. The prognosticators were calling for sunshine and warm temperatures, which would bring out golfers and others who wanted to bask in the sunshine and enjoy a burger and a beverage on the Sunset Veranda. The Pickens County Health Department burst that bubble, however, informing Story on April 17 that outdoor grills were not permissible for restaurants unless the establishment has a washable sealed floor, an enclosed space or screened-in area and a hand sink. Thus, the Sunset Veranda was empty on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, while Story and Public Works Director Bill Bates scrambled to find a way to comply with the health regulations. Story and Bates met with Health Department officials Monday, April 19, to find out how to bring the Sunset Veranda into compliance. Staff architect Wayne Huey is working with the pair to find a way to make the outdoor dining work. “The Health Department has been very gracious in working with us but at the same time very clear about what we have to do,” Story said after the April 18 POA Town Hall meeting. The Sunset Veranda was scheduled to open for the season on April 17, with lunch and dinner served (weather permitting) on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The outdoor patio was very popular last fall, and was often full of diners. Being able to cook and serve entrees outside took pressure off the kitchen staff at peak times. If the restaurant staff is forced to use the central kitchen to serve outside diners, servers will have a long walk between the kitchen and the Sunset Veranda. “We are going to find out what we need to do to solve this,” Story said. He said the health ordinance has “been on the books” for a while, but hasn’t been enforced. Dine in the shade
The POA has paid about $6,000 to rent the white tent over the Sunset Veranda, from April to October. Story said five wedding receptions that will utilize the tent have already been booked, which will pay half the rental fee.
Board directors asked Story why a white tent was ordered, rather than a color more in keeping with Big Canoe’s covenants, such as green. “All the wedding parties want white,” Story said, “and it’s not cost effective to put up a white tent for a wedding and then another tent later.” In addition, Story said, a green tent costs 50 percent more than a white tent; a striped green and white tent costs 40 percent more. POA Director Rich Andersen said the white tent is “less than ideal, but it’s more practical.” |
