City takes over Mt. Ashland ski area issues

The U.S. Forest Service has granted the City of Ashland its request as the special use permit holder for the Mt. Ashland Ski Area.

After an Oct. 3 letter from the city asked the Forest Service to deal directly with the City of Ashland for ski area expansion contracts, Steve Johnson — recreation specialist for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest — replied.

At an Oct. 3, city council meeting the city decided to relinquish the Mt. Ashland Association's right to negotiate a timber sale with the Forest Service in a 71-acre expansion area until they come to a consensus on restoration costs, a business plan and a Quality Assurance/Quality Control team to oversee the expansion.

U.S. District Court judge Owen Panner ruled in favor of the Forest Service and Mt. Ashland Association in September in a lawsuit claiming a proposed expansion violated the National Environmental Policy Act. While the Mt. Ashland Association said it would wait until Oct. 20 before beginning the first $3.7 million phase of its expansion, the city — who holds the special use permit to operate the ski area — has halted the process until it receives a business plan outlining what contingency plan the ski area has in case it fails.

If the ski area does fail, the city could be liable for the costs of restoring the area. It holds the special use permit, which it leases to the Mt. Ashland Association.

Johnson's letter of response said the Forest Service believes the Mt. Ashland Association has enough money to restore the area as it is now, but it needs a phased development plan to determine restoration costs after the expansion.

Ashland City Administrator Martha Bennett said the Mt. Ashland Association detailed expansion business plan will likely be revealed in an executive session with the Ashland City Council — where the public cannot attend. No meeting date has been set.

Representatives for the Mt. Ashland Association were not available for comment Tuesday, but Mt. Ashland Association President Bill Little said a meeting with Ashland Mayor John Morrison, prior to the Oct. 3 council meeting. Little said he felt the Mt. Ashland Association and city were moving forward.

Staff writer Alan Panebaker can be reached at 482-3456 x 227 or apanebaker@dailytidings.com.