The Allen County Community Correctional Residential Services Facility could save more than $500,000 annually on food services after the completion of a kitchen construction approved by the County Council on Wednesday.
When the facility first moved to 7117 Venture Lane in northwest Fort Wayne in 2020, county officials decided against installing a commercial kitchen. My current kitchen only has a cooling and warming oven.
Chris Cloud, the commissioner's chief of staff, said Fort Wayne Community Nutrition Services provided meal services to the center after discussing the logistics of a residential program with its own kitchen, including staffing. .
The cost of FWCS' meal services has steadily increased since the residential program began, according to documents provided to the county council. His average price per meal this year is $4.03, which works out to more than $1 million a year if you estimate his daily attendance at the facility is 230.
Cody Fry, assistant director of the Department of Community Corrections, said the department is considering other cost-effective options.
Frye said Community Corrections has received estimates from food service providers about the average cost of food if the building had its own kitchen. Summit Food Service said in September 2022 that the average cost per meal would be $2.11, or more than $531,000 annually.
Frye said Summit Food Services has chosen not to provide updated estimates outside of the bidding process. Mr Fry said based on 2022 estimates, Council Community Corrections would save more than $500,000 a year.
MSKTD & Associates' bid of more than $732,000 for the new kitchen was unanimously approved by council. City Councilman Josh Hale (Ran. 1) and Tom Harris (R. 2) were absent.
Community Corrections first began discussions about the project with MSKTD & Associates to obtain construction cost estimates in 2022. Other bidders were not mentioned at the meeting.
Funding for this project will come from local income tax public safety funds.
The kitchen equipment is expected to be the highest cost of the project at $350,000, followed by design and construction at nearly $140,000, according to project estimates. Cloud said the equipment is commercial grade, similar to what is used in restaurants, and is designed to last even with heavy use.
Councilman Don Wyss (R-4th) asked if other county departments could save money by using the same food service company.
Frye said he plans to discuss that possibility with authorities including the Allen County Youth Center and the Sheriff's Department. But the timing of current food service contracts will affect when that happens.
