Foot Notes Cafe to close in library
Columbia County Library patrons wanting a snack or a drink might soon have to look somewhere other than the small eatery in the lobby.
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County officials negotiated the early withdrawal of the vendor operating Foot Notes Cafe for not paying what it owed to lease the space.
The county's contract with Kaffe Klatch Inc. requires it to pay to the county 13.25 percent of gross revenues collected from Foot Notes. A payment made by the company in December was returned because of insufficient funds, and Kaffe Klatch also failed to make its payments this month and in January.
Typically, Columbia County Commission would vote to cancel their contract with the vendor, but that requires four months' notice, and the contract is set to expire May 30.
County Attorney Doug Batchelor suggested in previous meetings with officials that they negotiate Kaffe Klatch's early withdrawal and set up a payment plan for the back rent.
Kaffe Klatch agreed to the contract termination and to make two payments of about $240, and one other rent payment, to cover its debt. The company is set to leave Foot Notes at the end of the month, said Community and Leisure Services Director Barry Smith.
Smith said he intends to meet with restaurant owners to discuss procedures for operating Foot Notes and hopes to start seeking a new vendor that same month.
That meeting has been set for 2 p.m. March 9 in the library.
In a new request for proposal, county officials likely will abandon rent payments based on a percentage of the profits. Future rent charges probably will be determined by square footage, Smith said.
In other meeting news, commissioners agreed to transfer the salary and benefits for Linda Fulmer from Animal Services to Emergency and Operations.
After discussing the issue in a closed session, commissioners will transfer $44,155 to Emergency and Operations.
The former Animal Services manager transferred to Emergency and Operations at the start of the year when Animal Services was removed from Pam Tucker's division. It is now overseen by Deputy Administrator Scott Johnson.