Document text
http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Featured Galleries: June 28, 2007 Ski area timber sale blocked by council By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings The Ashland City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to send a letter to the U.S. Forest Service clarifying the city's position in regards to a timber sale on Mount Ashland that would pave the way toward future expansion. The motion approved by the City Council states that the city will eventually allow the Mt. Ashland Association to be listed as the purchaser of the timber sale in question. The letter will also state that the city is not ready to authorize the Forest Service to put Mt. Ashland Association's name on the contract until after the city has had an opportunity to talk to the association about City Council concerns. City Administrator Martha Bennett said Thursday morning the council remains concerned that a restoration sum of $200,000 is inadequate to restore the mountain if the ski area fails. The council also wants a detailed ski area business plan and the formation of a team to oversee expansion work in order to safeguard the Ashland watershed. The Mt. Ashland Association pulled out of mediation talks with the city in May. Bennett said she is also sending a letter to the association stating the City Council wants an opportunity to negotiate again. "The council is trying to meet the Mt. Ashland Association half-way," she said. Ski Area General Manager Kim Clark said he could not comment about the City Council actions at this time. In October 2006, the City Council sent the Forest Service a letter stating it wants the Forest Service to deal directly with the city on timber sale issues. That took control over timber sale issues away from the Mt. Ashland Association. Logging is currently blocked by a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals injunction imposed after environmental groups appealed a lower court's approval of the Mt. Ashland Ski & Snowboard Resort expansion. A hearing to consider whether to lift the injunction is scheduled for July 11. Just last week, the six-member council was evenly split about whether to send a letter allowing the Mt. Ashland Association to be listed as the purchaser of the timber sale. Mayor John Morrison, who casts tie-breaking votes, was absent. The council did not send a letter.Councilor Eric Navickas, who previously voted not to send the letter, said that his concern was not with eventually allowing the Mt. Ashland Association to be listed as the purchaser, but in giving up council authority over the entire timber contract. Staff writer Vickie Aldous can be reached at 479-8199 or [email protected]. Current Comments: Well MAYBE they'd have enough to restore the hillside if Hartvickas weren't thwarting their every move. I'm tempted to gas up my chain saw, head up the mountain, and kick this project off! Astonished - Ashland, OR - June 28th, 3:12 PM I was astonished when MAA said they'd work with the City to address council concerns, and then shifted its position and backtracked on its commitments. Bad form. One party in this debate has a consistent and integral position, and it ain't the MAA. Encouraged - ca$hland - June 28th, 7:45 PM I have an idea. Come restore the "hillside" up above Talent where some greedy person decided to have a clear cut on steep terrain for some quick cash. A practice run if you will. If they can repair that, I'll listen. Of course, they would have to keep some pretty transparent books to show how affordable it would be. It's not that easy folks. And hey, Astonished, bring a shovel, not a chainsaw. Sounds like you need one anyway. Lout Sue - Talent, OR - June 28th, 9:49 PM Could the headline be less accurate? The City told USFS that it will allow MAA to do a timber sale if the court OK's expansion. So the court is holding things up, not the City. read something once - ashland - June 29th, 1:43 AM Thanks council! Skiers drink lots of Red Bull, Red Bull is full of caffeine and stimulates the bowels, stimulated bowels move. Not one more flush! MAA can't speak because they've got too much already coming out the other end and we're all drinking it. Butt plugs for Jesus and Skiers too, they go well with a bong hit, dude! potty mouth - Ashland - June 29th, 9:10 AM The court is holding things up at the City's (or at least one of their councilors, who may or may not have a conflictn of interest) request. Making it sound like the court it solely responsible is just a way of obsfucating the problem so that it's more difficult to lay blame where it belongs: the City. Note to City: instead of complex (expensive) legal gambits, why don't you just put a measure on the ballot and be done with it? Will of the people, and all that. Richard Cranium - Ashland OR - June 29th, 9:22 AM Mr. Cranium: I am so tired of people like you claiming Eric Navickas has conflict of interest on MAA. After his election, Mr. Navickas checked with both city and state officials to determine if he was in any danger of any kind of conflict and he was told he was not. If there is a conflict of interest, it goes back to Alan DeBoer, who resigned as chairman of MAA then became Mayor of Ashland, then broke many tie votes by siding with those in favor of MAA's stupid proposal. Get the facts, please! Long Memory - State of Jefferson - June 29th, 9:58 AM The "wantin ta do some cuttin" crowd is carrying water for MAA in these online flea-biting contests . Why won't MAA step up and answer the big questions: Why not share your business plan? Why back out of mediation? Can you raise 17 million without affecting lift ticket prices? How can you expect to repay restoration costs? Why put the expansion in a springs percolation area? I worry that the current plan could hurt Mt. A. by overspending and alienating the steep and cheap folks. Smells like AFN. Lazlo - Ashram - June 29th, 5:47 PM Cranium, a vote (ballot measure) might work for the proposed expansion if we were not so far gone in the process. But I am afraid we would have to poll every owner to his or her view regarding the proposal. Every American owns the Ashland watershed. And while the clearcutting of 70 acres in the Ashland watershed pales in comparison to the environmental degradation occuring on a daily basis in this country, the City Council and the courts should do their jobs. The near end will tell all. Derek - Ashland - June 30th, 2:09 PM People can talk and think their opinion is worth some thing and talk negative about some body that actually spends their time serving on associations and goverment counsels. If your Memory is truly Long remember that MT. Ashland ski spot has always been a wanna be losing proposition, started by and for the local skiers. This is a minority affair and should never been a city funded money pit. Let it sink, but, dont drag down the mountain. You all need to quit complaining and get involved,winers. Golfergt - ashland old - June 30th, 3:13 PM Proceed.I shot and ate the Fishers.Poop goes to Klamath river. owls taste like chicken - ashland - July 2nd, 6:31 PM I'm sitting here at Evo's; my fingers are trembling from watching Al Gore talk about skiiers causing global warming I went over and gave a full 10% of Daddy's monthly Trustfund to Dimitre and Nakedass and was givin a "kill Mt A Expansion" bumber sticker 2glue on my Prius. Next month I'm flying to Europe for my 19th enviro workshop on filing appeals to stop multi-use of USFS lands. At my men's group therapy session today I will become enpowered into believing I'm another Ed Abbey with a life Organic Maniac Gaia-Dove - Berekely, Santa Cruz, Marin - July 3rd, 9:38 AM while I am not opposing the ski area expansion, just the way it is being presented, I AM opposed to the pro expansion crowd that get on these forums and attack our city council and anyone else in their path. This makes us all look like self centered angry nut cases. Extreme judgement on certain council memebers is not going to further the expansion cause, only create hard and hurt feelings, these people are only human with hearts and feelings, give everyone a break and stick to the facts. then get a different life - Ashland - July 3rd, 11:14 AM Looks to me like we have "Red Dog" posting under "Long Memory" now. Mt A is a great mountain. I've skied it for 27 yrs... but it needs some improvement. Go Away - Ashland - July 3rd, 9:11 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Security Systems Debt Relief New Hampshire Primary Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us