The former Elmhurst Country Club`s potential for generating $1 million a year in income is the yardstick the Du Page County Forest Preserve District will use to measure proposals of concessionaires interested in operating the newly acquired county facility.
The district last week took bids from companies and organizations interested in operating the club, which the district purchased for $6.4 million in September. The $1 million figure will be used to size up the bids, said William Maio Jr., president of the forest preserve corporation board that is operating the club on an interim basis.
The figure was arrived at after the district applied the largest of the proposed profit-sharing schemes to the facility`s current earnings potential.
Seven of the 15 firms that submitted bids Feb. 14 to operate all or part of the 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and banquet facility for the district have qualified as finalists, either alone or in combination with other bidders, based on their estimates of generating $1 million-a-year in royalties.
”I understand that money isn`t everything but that at least has to attract your attention,” Maio said.
”That doesn`t by any shape say we`re going to get $1 million out of that club,” said Steven M. Halberg, the district`s superintendent of design and development.
In addition to potential royalties, other criteria being used by the district in evaluating the concessionaire proposals include the financial stability and capabilities of the bidder, the firms` experience in comparable ventures, personal qualifications, operating strategy and business reputation. The district is seeking to hire a concessionaire to operate the 200-acre facility beginning April 1, when the club is to become totally public.
The management proposals scheduled to receive closer scrutiny by the golf course committee were submitted by:
Canteen Corp., 216 W. Diversey Ave., Elmhurst; Itasca Country Club, in Itasca; Colonial Food Service, 8 E. Galena Ave., Aurora; Criterion Food Service, 0N660 Prince Crossing Rd., West Chicago; L&L Hynek, 6130 S. Elm St., Burr Ridge; Bensenville Park District, 161 N. Church Rd., Bensenville; and Mike Buros Enterprises Inc., 4N560 Wood Dale Rd., Wood Dale.
L&L Hynek submitted a bid to run the banquet facility only and Mike Buros proposed to run the golf course only.
Based on its proposal of guaranteeing the forest preserve district $150,000 annually plus 80 percent of all profits from the banquet operation and 95 percent of the pretax profits from the golf operation, the Canteen Corp. appears to be the most formidable bidder.
Citing a close association with Itasca Country Club, Maio removed himself from any discussions of the concession contract as long as they involve that club.
