THE CITY of Terrace may have twice now rejected attempts to provide a local non-profit group with money to help it buy the Shames Mountain ski facility but it’ll be meeting with the group tomorrow to determine other ways it could help.
Mayor Dave Pernarowski characterized the session as a way for council to get an update on My Mountain Co-op’s business plan to raise the money it needs.
The co-op does have a sales deal with the Shames Mountain Ski Corporation and its directors and shareholders vote this week to accept or reject the offer.
“I think the wish of council going forward is to help the co-op buy and operate the mountain. The question is what are the contributions that might be helpful for them,” said Pernarowski.
Although the council voted no to $200,000 for the co-op and then voted no to $91,000, the mayor said it would be incorrect to say the city has not provided a form of financial assistance.
“We have provided free office space and technically that is a cost to the city as we cannot rent that space to someone else,” said Pernarowski.
A first agreement to provide office space in the city-owned Kwinitsa building at no charge for six months has now been extended a further five months. And the city did buy a $599 business membership in the co-op, the mayor added.
“The idea now is to meet with the My Mountain Co-op to hear more about their plans and to learn more about their business plan,” said Pernarowski.
He said council will be prepared to talk about any number of measures.
“I don’t think anything’s off the table. We’ll look at any number of options,” said Pernarowski.
Short of financial help, the city is supporting a request by Shames Mountain Ski Corporation to write off a $500,000 debt it owes to the province for a loan it never fully repaid.
Council meets tomorrow as a committee of the whole, which is intended to be a session for discussion and debate as opposed to a formal council meeting.
