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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 7, 2007 Heavy Ashland snowfall forces mediation delay By Bill kettler Mail Tribune Too much snow in Ashland two weeks ago has delayed mediation sessions that tentatively were scheduled for this week to resolve who will ultimately oversee expansion of the Mount Ashland ski area. City officials had offered mediation as a possible solution to settle a dispute with the nonprofit Mount Ashland Association over whether the city or the association has final responsibility for working with the U.S. Forest Service to implement a plan to add 16 new ski trails and two chairlifts on the 7,500-foot mountain. The ski area's board of directors agreed to nonbinding mediation sessions, but said the meetings needed to happen before March 12 — the expiration date of a temporary injunction barring all work on new construction at the ski area that U.S. District Court Judge Owen Panner imposed in his opinion rejecting the claims of environmental groups that oppose the expansion. Ashland City Administrator Martha Bennett said a snowstorm that swept through Ashland and left some city residents without power prompted cancellation of a City Council meeting in which the council planned to choose its mediation team and discuss goals for the mediation process. Bennett said the council is scheduled to meet in executive (closed) session today to choose a mediation team and discuss the process. Advertisement The city holds the special-use permit from the U.S. Forest Service to operate the ski area, and has directed the Forest Service to work directly with city officials on all aspects of the logging that will clear new ski trails. The ski area holds a 25-year lease, and contends that language in the lease gives it sole responsibility for all expansion work and improvements. The ski area threatened to sue the city for obstructing its expansion plans, and the city suggested mediation to resolve the dispute. City officials agreed to take over the special use permit when a public fundraising campaign collected enough money to buy the ski area in 1992, after its owners announced plans to close it. Little said the ski area is still willing to mediate, but will not delay implementing any of its expansion plans. "We agreed to mediate up through the 12th — that would be next Monday," he said. "If (city officials) have other dates, we need to hear what those are. "We are happy to talk," he said. "We're happy to mediate, but time is of the essence for us. It's critical for us to move forward with our expansion plans." "We need to be able to move forward freely and unhindered," he said. "That's a process we will not delay." Little said last week that construction work on the mountain would begin in June, two months later than the April construction date he had announced earlier. He declined to say what prompted the delay. He said ski area managers are working out the details of all the construction activity associated with the expansion, including logging, watershed restoration projects, parking lot expansion, and building the foundation for the new lodge at the base of a glacial moraine at mid-mountain. "There's lots of planning work and coordination," he said. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492 or e-mail: [email protected] Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary