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Study Group Plan Ok’d For Mount Spokane Ski Area Would Be Run By Public Development Authority

Eric Torbenson Staff writer

Spokane County Commissioners Tuesday embraced the idea of creating a public development group to run Mount Spokane Ski Area instead of the current private operator.

The Mount Spokane 2000 Study Group, which appears to be the state’s first choice to operate the ski hill, wants to become a not-for-profit public development authority to help finance ski operations and increase public input.

County commission approval of the development authority could move Mount Spokane 2000 closer to getting the concession, said Spokane attorney Ted Stiles, who would head the authority’s board of directors.

“People just don’t go to Mount Spokane anymore,” said Commissioner Steve Hasson. “They go to Schweitzer (Mountain Resort) or to Silver (Mountain Ski and Summer Resort). I want to see some of that money back here.”

The study group, made up of Spokane business and civic leaders, has criticized the Mount Spokane Skiing Corp. for its lack of improvements at the ski hill.

The state has yet to renew the 20-year concession at the hill. But at a July meeting, the state parks commission strongly endorsed the study group’s bid over the current operator.

Stiles said the group is nearly finished with negotiations with the state over the concession.

The soonest management of Mount Spokane could change would be next year. Mount Spokane Skiing Corp. has extended its current contract with the state to run the ski area this season.

A public development authority is like a special unit of local government. It can’t levy taxes or condemn land, but it can sell bonds.

It gives control of property to the public, with a board of directors accountable to publicly elected officials, in this case, the county commissioners.

Examples of attractions operated by public development authorities include the Seattle Art Museum and Pike Place Market in Seattle.

Creating the authority has some advantages, said bond attorney Roy Koegen.

The authority could issue bonds to run the ski area. The bonds could be paid back by profits from selling lift tickets.

The county would not be liable for the money if the ski area profits melt from bad weather or lack of interest. The authority would stand alone.

Any profits beyond the expenses get plowed back into the ski hill. The current operator runs Mount Spokane for profit.

The non-profit idea alone sold commissioner Phil Harris.

“I used to go to Mount Spokane, but now my family doesn’t because it just hasn’t been kept up,” he said. “We ought to do this for the children of Spokane, because kids are our most important resource.”

Mount Spokane Skiing Corp. would have a chance to match the offer and conditions of any agreement between the state and the development authority, but will likely choose to be bought out, Stiles said.

The commission will consider the resolution to create the authority sometime in the next two weeks.

The proposed seven-member board is made up of six study group members and county budget and finance director Marshall Farnell. commissioner Steve Hasson said the board might not end up that way.

The commission will likely take some study group members off the board and add more members of the public, Hasson said. Stiles said he and the study group were willing to go along with whatever board makeup the commissioners saw fit.

Mount Spokane Skiing Corp. president Gregg Sowder could not be reached for comment.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PROPOSED BOARD The proposed Mount Spokane Public Development Authority would replace the Mount Spokane Skiing Corp. as the concessionaire at Mount Spokane ski area. The new authority would have a seven-member board of directors. The board proposed by the Mount Spokane 2000 Study Group: Chairman Ted Stiles, Spokane attorney and spokesman for the study group. Vice Chairman Allison Cowles, bank director and community volunteer. Secretary Bob Luby, project manager at Metropolitan Mortgage and member of the study group. Marshall Farnell, county budget finance director. Not a member of the group. Val Eliassen, professional ski instructor who designed the children’s ski school programs at Mount Spokane. Also a member of the study group. Tammy Jensen, physical education instructor at Spokane Community College and member of the study group. Dave Clack, chairman of the Joint Center of Higher Education.

This sidebar appeared with the story: PROPOSED BOARD The proposed Mount Spokane Public Development Authority would replace the Mount Spokane Skiing Corp. as the concessionaire at Mount Spokane ski area. The new authority would have a seven-member board of directors. The board proposed by the Mount Spokane 2000 Study Group: Chairman Ted Stiles, Spokane attorney and spokesman for the study group. Vice Chairman Allison Cowles, bank director and community volunteer. Secretary Bob Luby, project manager at Metropolitan Mortgage and member of the study group. Marshall Farnell, county budget finance director. Not a member of the group. Val Eliassen, professional ski instructor who designed the children’s ski school programs at Mount Spokane. Also a member of the study group. Tammy Jensen, physical education instructor at Spokane Community College and member of the study group. Dave Clack, chairman of the Joint Center of Higher Education.