Porky's Clubhouse lease renewed

RITZVILLE — City Council members unanimously agreed Jan. 2 to renew the city’s lease with Porky’s Clubhouse Grill for the municipal golf court clubhouse.

The restaurant owner, Jackeline Pacheco, is an Arizona native who established the first Porky’s two years ago as a hot dog stand in Moses Lake.

At the Ritzville site, Pacheco takes orders and relays them to her husband, Mario Flores, who prepares food in the kitchen.

The city’s lease contract with Porky’s runs through calendar year 2024.

But, as amended at the Jan. 16 council meeting, the business owner will pay a monthly rental fee of $350 from March through December.

The contract stipulates that the restaurant owner, as lessee, shall provide, at a minimum, snack food, beverages and related products to serve golf course users.

During the non-golf season months (November to March), the contract allows the business owner to set opening and closing schedules (days and hours).

At the Jan. 2 meeting, City Attorney John Kragt emphasized that the city’s relationship with the restaurant business is one of landlord/tenant.

In contrast, the golf course manager’s contract with Dan Duff defines a relationship between the city and a contract employee (See related story). Different rules and requirements may apply depending on the type of contract-defined relationship.

Duff to manage golf course

Ritzville – The City Council on Jan. 2 approved a contract with Daniel Duff to managing the municipal golf course this year.

The contract terms, which remained unchanged from the amended contract approved in January 2023, stipulate that Duff be paid $4,935 per month and receive 25% of gross green fees received in excess of $50,000 for the year.

As manager, Duff will be responsible for maintenance of the course sprinkler system, equipment, greens, fairways, sand traps and areas adjacent to the clubhouse. He will also collect dues and green fees, sponsor golf tournaments and coordinate with the city public works department for repairs and maintenance, among other duties.

In addition, Duff may contract with the Ritzville School District to coach the Lind-Ritzville High School golf team, though he is not required to do so.