Health department cautions on water and wastewater as county awards falls concession to Main Street Perk

The Lincoln County Board of County Commissioners voted March 25 to award the concession contract at the falls to Main Street Perk & Pub after reviewing three bids and receiving health‑department guidance on water and wastewater constraints.

Health department staff told the board that water capacity, wastewater storage and menu complexity are the primary licensing hurdles for any concession operator at the small falls visitor stand. "The biggest issues here are water and waste water and then just space," the health department official said, adding that mobile, self‑contained units present the fewest licensing problems while operators proposing in‑building preparation may require additional infrastructure and testing.

Bids included Cut Above Lawn Care (high bid, mostly prepackaged menu), Main Street Perk (mid bid, existing retail food establishment with a more complex menu) and Kingdom Barbecue (low bid, mobile unit). The health official said Kingdom Barbecue's self‑contained truck would be simplest to license and that Cut Above's prepackaged approach would be the lowest health risk once licensed. Main Street Perk's representative told commissioners the proposed operation is largely pre‑prepared and designed to be run by a single person; the representative said refrigeration, temperature control and planned equipment would be addressed during plan review and licensing.

After brief discussion the commissioners reopened consideration and approved Main Street Perk & Pub to operate the concession. Chair: "We'll get a contract to you as soon as we get it up and lined out," the Chair said, and staff said the county attorney will finalize contract details. The final agreement will require the concessionaire to meet all Health Department licensing and wastewater plan requirements before full operation.

The board directed staff to prepare the contract and return with details for final signature. The Health Department and Parks staff will verify that wastewater holding, well testing (if a well is used for handwashing), and any required holding tanks or self‑contained handwashing units are in place before the stand opens.