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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Shuttle vision ... Council Corner: In the process of revolution, does Ashland lead or react? ... Ashland church greets Cuba Caravan with potluck Thursday ... Our View: Shuttle vision ... Council Corner: In the process of revolution, does Ashland lead or react? ... Ashland church greets Cuba Caravan with potluck Thursday ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Save the ski area, bring the community together, end the divisive expansion Move would end divisiveness created by Mt. Ashland plans Comment By Eric Navickas DailyTidings.com By Eric Navickas Posted Jan. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Eric Navickas Posted Jan. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter . » Social News As another week passes without snowfall and the Mt. Ashland Ski Area remains closed, the Mt. Ashland Association’s financial situation becomes more and more critical. The federal government has already shelled out $750,000 of taxpayer funds to allow the ski area to continue to operate this year, the administrative staff has been radically reorganized, and maintenance has been desperately deferred. Without another major bailout, it is unlikely that the ski area can continue to operate another season. Unfortunately, the unpopular expansion proposal that has been pushed forward for over a decade has created deep division within the community. The uncompromising board of directors has offended many through its unwillingness to look to more modest alternatives. The board even went so far as to sue the city of Ashland at a heavy cost to taxpayers. The city had taken on liability through ownership of the ski area and appropriately requested modest oversight and bonding. Agreements could have easily been resolved without litigation. The board’s staunch refusal to face the realities of operating a ski area within a restricted and critical municipal watershed has frustrated all involved. The board of directors has created a situation where broad community support for the ski area does not exist. The community-supported fundraising campaign that bailed out the ski area in the early '90s is no longer possible. Divisions are too deep and popular support has fully eroded. Although I am a longstanding advocate for protection of the Ashland Creek watershed, I still support maintaining the existing ski area as a community asset and beneficial recreational use area. The necessary community support, however, for another bailout of the ski area will only come with the withdrawal of the expansion proposal. The Forest Service and the MAA Board of Directors both have the power to end this divisive proposal through withdrawing either the decision or the application. I believe the future of the ski area and the ability for fundraising to move forward is contingent on this obvious and necessary decision. The ski area expansion proposal has been costly, divisive and unsuccessful. It has dragged down the ski area’s ability to invest in improvements within the existing area and exhausted reserve funds that were robust when the city took over ownership in the early '90s. Restoration and stabilization of areas with heavy erosion has been limited, at best. There is no issue that has divided the community more deeply and these divisions will take time to heal. We have the opportunity to all come together as a community united and work to save the existing ski area but this will only come with a final end to the unpopular push to expand. The time has come to withdraw the decision toward expansion and bring the community together. Former City Councilor Eric Navickas lives in Ashland. By Eric Navickas DailyTidings.com By Eric Navickas Posted Jan. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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