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Letters to the Editor -- Expansion of the ski area is in our best interest A letter to the editor on Tuesday indicated that the proposed expansion of Ski Ashland might not be a sound financial investment. I could not disagree more. I served on the board and initially agreed that the expense was not in the best interest of the community. After several years of study and analysis I came to the conclusion that without the proposed expansion the ski area would not exist through the next decade. The new lift, which the ski area has already purchased and expensed, will allow more skier visits and stable operations in the inclement weather that currently shuts down the Ariel lift, which will increase income. The statement that the bank account has dwindled is correct, but what isn't relayed is that a used lift has been purchased, a new treatment facility is completed, and many improvements have been made to the mountain. These have been expensed in the years they are completed and currently exceed over a million dollars. This doesn't include the estimate of $200 thousand for the studies and legal fees for the expansion. I urge citizens to become aware of the issues and those that are against the expansion to stay with the environmental issues. We should not seek to scare the public with misinformation. I might add that the board is attempting to continue the improvements through cash flow, operating profits and fundraising. They are currently debt free and as of my last conversation not considering debt for the expansion. Alan DeBoer, Ashland Editor's note: Alan DeBoer is mayor of Ashland. Very grateful for Mtn. Meadows I have sometimes read in your paper- what I feel are very untrue and unfair statements about Mountain Meadows. I have lived there for over four years and feel very grateful to be living there. Betty B. Vaughn, Ashland Shopping carts stacking up I manage a low income property here in Ashland and have been fighting the issue of stolen shopping carts on my property. I had to call in the authorities to talk to the thieves and reported their identities to Shop-N-Cart who stated, "We don't prosecute people who take shopping carts home." The police convinced the tenants not to have stolen property on the complex grounds so now the thieves shove the carts outside the complex entrance into the ditches. This creates a ghetto style atmosphere and a look that I don't appreciate. The police can't do anything because Shop-N-Cart does not care. Does the city of Ashland care that the ditches are littered with stolen carts? I'm open to suggestions or comments. Kelly Pegoda, Ashland LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -