Fallen Leaf Lake concessionaire quits after less than 1 month
By Susan Wood
With the new concessionaire opting out, it’s back to square one for the seemingly endless circle of political debate over who will run the general store and marina at Fallen Leaf Lake.
Rick Firkins, a caterer with a business based in Albuquerque and home in Christmas Valley, sent the Community Services District board a letter of resignation less than a month after the panel selected him to run the hub of the mountain village outside South Lake Tahoe.
The issue has divided the community, consumed hours in meetings during the last year, led to threats and ousted John and Ruth Rich after 14 years because of an impasse in contract negotiations.
When the board selected Firkins as the concessionaire, the Rich family said they plan to focus on other personal matters and Firkins was preparing for upgrades at the lakefront store and cafe. That vision was short lived when he learned the turmoil he was about to enter.
“I have concluded that the Fallen Leaf venture would cause irreparable damage to my business, my family and most probably, my sanity,” Firkins wrote, adding: “It has become clear to me that my ability to succeed in this endeavor has been irrevocably compromised by those who have essentially dragged my name through the mud with their vicious emails.”
The sentiment resembled former board President Dana Clark’s letter of resignation in January because he said he has chosen to invest his time in “positive events.”
Firkins continued: “Good burgers, (barbecue) and ice cream will not fix the vicious divide in the Fallen Leaf community, and the air out there is too toxic for my taste.”
(Click letter to read the full text.)
CSD Board President Mike Kraft expressed disappointment in Firkins decision.
“Unfortunately, his letter has a familiar ring,” Kraft said an email to community members, referring to tumultuous environment created between the Rich family supporters and others who want to make a change.
Kraft went on to solidify the board’s commitment to finding a new concessionaire. The matter will be discussed in upcoming meetings. One is scheduled for later this month. Those interested in the job may submit a letter to pmiller@fallenleaflakecsd.org, the address of the clerk of the board.
That was predictable. This CSD Board behaves like middle schoolers who fail to do their homework and blame the universe for the consequences. Well, the universe knows a different and unbiased, reasonable, positive, problem-solving, forthright, fact-finding group of people is going to have to repair all the damage you have done. You guys can’t handle a thing, you have your “facts” out of whack and you’ll never find your way out of the box you’ve gotten yourselves in to — even if someone gives you chainsaws and axes. Plunder and blunder. This is pathetic.
As a former public official in another California town, and a homeowner at Fallen Leaf, I have been appalled at the misteps and ineptitude of the Community Service District Board. When the will of the people who elected them to office was voiced in opposition to the CSD’s plan to run the marina and store on its own and oust the excellent, locally owned-and-operated concessionaire with a proven track record,its President resigned because he felt his hands were tied. Well, this is a democracy where a wise man said “if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen.” The community has no confidence in the current CSD Board, save for the newest Member Jennifer_hall Thornton. How could we, when Board Member Mike Kraft, at his first presiding meeting as President in February, presented a potential concessionaire whose only experience is running a food coach for the stars on movie sets? We think the families of Fallen Leaf Lake deserve better credentials and experience in a concessionaire that is running the show where our children play on the beach as babes, use the marina kayaks as adventure-seeking kids, and learn key job skills during summer youth employement as teensflipping burgers and stocking store shelves.
The CSD Board has shown poor judgement, arrogance, delriction of duties int he contrctig proces, back room cronyism, and lack of follow through and decisin making. How else to explain that less that 90 days before the beginning of summer, there is no concessionaire or marina operator, and there is no
Fire Chief to replace the great one who resigned six months ago. Resign, Directors, and spare us all the devisiveness and expense of a recall for which we are prepared to conduct as otherwise may be necessary.
They’re going to have a heck of a time replacing Chris Sauers as fire chief! He was excellent. Definitely a cut above. And I know that getting the store/marina up and running this late will be pretty impossible too. Usually the Rich’s would have been at work for months going to trade shows and ordering stock for the new season.
Oh well, we’ll see what happens this summer. Makes me wonder if the board has a clue about how real business works?
I feel very sad that a group of people got it into their heads to change concessionaires for the FLL store and marina when the Riches were doing such an excellent job. What bee stung their brains and where did they dig up this Mr.F? If there is ANY way to get the Riches to return I would support it wholehartedly.