Seaholm administrators are scrambling to install a sink in the new concession stands in the gym area to become in compliance with the Oakland County Health Department.
“According to the Oakland County Health Department, we [Seaholm] are not in compliance to operate a concession stand,” Seaholm’s Athletic Director Aaron Frank told the Highlander.
This past fall sports season the Oakland County Health Department revoked their approval for Seaholm concession stands to sell prepared foods such as pizza, hot dogs, and other items that require cooking.
This occurred not long after the completion of the new pool and gym with built-in contemporary concession stands. Barton Malow was the group contracted to build the new gym and pool as well as the concession stands. The design was completed and construction had already begun when the Oakland County Health Department upped their requirements for concession stands in their jurisdiction.
“Food that was to be sold that needed to be prepared on site like pizza and hotdogs had to be cooked down in the cafeteria and brought up to the concession stands,” volunteer Robin Butler said. “We ended up being restricted to pre-packaged foods such as chips pop and candy that did not require any preparation.”
This road block to serving a portion of the menu caused the folks who operate the concession stands to go without selling the cooked foods.
“I frequently went to games during this past soccer season, and it really bothered me that my own concession stands could not cook or prepare food to serve me,” senior Max Powell said.
“We didn’t have the volume at the soccer games I helped out at to hire someone on site to cook food. I believe the football program was able too though,” Butler said.
Lindsey Rem of Barton Malow explained when asked what responsibility if any is Barton Malow taking for this mistake, “Barton Malow carried out the project, but I understand that Birmingham Public Schools are handling the situation themselves.”
“Apparently the issue was that we lacked a sink that could wash the largest pan we use to serve food. In order to fix this problem we have already arranged for an additional larger sink to be installed,” said Principal Terry Piper. ”We are shooting to have the new sink installed, and the concession stands back on track by the beginning of basketball season.”
