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Hernando Today

Willy Gets A Heads-Up

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: March 15, 2009

PINE ISLAND - The owner of Willy's Tropical Breeze Cafe at Pine Island got a huge vote of confidence from County Commissioner Rose Rocco this week when she said she sees no need to re-bid the rights to a concession stand there.
Rocco said she had received calls from owner Willy Kochounian, who was concerned the county may decide to go out for bid after his five-year lease expires in 2011.
Rocco said she can't speak for the entire commission, but she believes Kochounian's 18-year tenure speaks for itself. She sees no advantage in bidding it out.

And besides, "who are you going to get that's any better?" she said.

"I have to say that he has put a lot of his time, his money, his energy into making that concession stand what it is and also bringing a lot of people into the county," Rocco said.
Rocco said Kochounian lives in Hernando Beach, provides security at the site and has made the Tropical Breeze "a real showcase for the county."

"To me, it's important to support someone who has been supporting the county for all these years," she said.
Rocco added: "If it's not broken, why fix it?"

Commissioner Jim Adkins agreed that Kochounian "runs a fine place - very clean, with no inspection problems."

When Rocco asked Commissioner Jeff Stabins if he cared to comment, he responded: "You've said it all."

Last month, Commissioners David Russell and John Druzbick said they prefer to follow the county's long-standing policy of bidding out projects to provide competition and perhaps gather more money into county coffers.

It also eliminates any perception that one company or person is getting favors.

Purchasing Director James Gantt said the county, as a course of business, does bid out concessionaire's contracts and has done so for years.

He cited two examples: The restaurant contract on the third floor of the government center and the concession stand at Roger's Park, which was finalized this week.
Gantt said the county code states the purpose of bidding is to "foster effective competition within the free enterprise system and provide safeguards for the maintenance of a procurement system of quality and integrity."

He said it is one of the goals and purposes of having a standardized bidding or procurement system.

"It's good policy," Gantt said.

In 1991, commissioners bid out the concession rights at Pine Island and Kochounian won a five-year contract.

Satisfied with Kochounian's services on the beach, subsequent boards renewed his lease in five-year increments, foregoing the bidding process.

That contract has gone up through the years - from $9,500 annually as stipulated in that first contract in September 1991 to the current $18,500 a year set forth in the most recent contract signed in 2006.

The county is contractually obligated to honor Kochounian's contract through 2011.

But for two commissioners, the issue is not about whether Kochounian is doing a good job on the beach. It's about following the routine business practices.

Russell told Hernando Today last month that, if he is still on the board in 2011, he would ask the concession rights be bid out.

Druzbick said he doesn't know why the county didn't follow normal bidding procedures with Kochounian and told Hernando Today he doesn't see why an exception should be made here.

Free market competition is healthy and should be encouraged, he said. When contracts are up for renewal, Parks Director Pat Fagan said he is routinely approached by the purchasing department if he is prepared to go out for bid. The same applied to Willy's in 2006, he said.

Fagan said Kochounian provided him with a letter in 2006 asking for a contract renewal. Fagan said he agreed with Kochounian and recommended Willy's contract be renewed without going out for bid. Commissioners at that time also agreed.

Fagan said it's not always about money.

"Willy has done a tremendous job ever since he has been out there," Fagan said.

"One of the biggest issues that people need to understand is Willy opens and closes the gate at Pine Island seven days a week. That's part of his contract."

Kochounian told Hernando Today his current $18,500 lease is too high as it is.

If it comes to bidding, Kochounian said he probably wouldn't participate. Not, he said, after all he has given to the county.

"I don't think it would be fair for me to bid on it because I've done a lot for the county," he said.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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