Sp Land, Durkee reach agreement

[ndscaper]

https://astheskiturns.blogspot.com/2016 ... t-ski.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SnoBrdr]

https://astheskiturns.blogspot.com/2016 ... t-ski.html

'There also may have been some cash considerations.'

In other words he held them up for ransom ?

Maybe that's why they needed the 100K from the town.

[yiddle on da fiddle]

Cant wait to see the bodies piling up cause of this move. Better still?......a boycott of every establishment on the access rd that serves beer...booz and grub. THEY are the only ones gaining by this seemingly illegal move...just friggin amazing that River Rd people let this pass the sniff test.....

[SnoBrdr]

Cant wait to see the bodies piling up cause of this move. Better still?......a boycott of every establishment on the access rd that serves beer...booz and grub. THEY are the only ones gaining by this seemingly illegal move...just friggin amazing that River Rd people let this pass the sniff test.....

Not sure how it's illegal or why the businesses should suffer.

[180]

Any change is good here. Been way too long. The summer momentum needs to be capitalized on and they are.

[Bubba]

https://astheskiturns.blogspot.com/2016 ... t-ski.html

Read the blog and the Selectboard minutes but I don't see anything further on the "gift". Can you elaborate?

[RENO]

https://astheskiturns.blogspot.com/2016 ... t-ski.html

Read the blog and the Selectboard minutes but I don't see anything further on the "gift". Can you elaborate?

I did a search also and don't see anything relating to this. If it's true they gifted $100,000 in taxpayer money to K resort then the selectboard is comprised of a bunch of morons!

As far as Durkee, what properties/land does he own in the area? I think he owns the Killington market, correct? What else? I'm curious what land he got.

[ndscaper]

https://astheskiturns.blogspot.com/2016 ... t-ski.html

Read the blog and the Selectboard minutes but I don't see anything further on the "gift". Can you elaborate?

I did a search also and don't see anything relating to this. If it's true they gifted $100,000 in taxpayer money to K resort then the selectboard is comprised of a bunch of morons!

As far as Durkee, what properties/land does he own in the area? I think he owns the Killington market, correct? What else? I'm curious what land he got.

From the Vermont Standard 12/8/16:

"Bianchi made an impassioned plea to include $100,000 of revenue from the options tax as a town sponsorship for the effort to bring the FIS World Cup Women’s Ski Races back to Killington next year. He said it’s an appropriate way to invest the tax funds, which are meant to support local businesses.
“This year’s event was a huge success,” he said. “Killington businesses benefitted significantly. If we can help bring the same result next year I think it would be the right thing to do.”
McGrath said Mike Salimano, president and CEO of Killington Resort, told her the event had a bigger negative financial result than they had expected, and he worries they can’t afford to lose that much every year. She thinks in that light Bianchi’s suggestion is a good idea.
“The options tax covers 20 percent of the town’s budget every year,” she said. “The money comes from work and services provided by our local businesses, and their success is what we should be investing it in.”
Bianchi acknowledged that the voters might turn down the investment at Town Meeting, but he thinks it should be proposed.
“Just a few years ago the people in town said it was high time for the Resort to show some action and not just words,” he said. “Well, now the Resort has stepped up with action and it’s time the town did the same.”

One clarification of Ms. McGrath's statement “The money comes from work and services provided by our local businesses..". The money mostly comes from the patrons of these businesses and the bulk of that from the patrons of the Resort, about $500,000 according to Chris Nyberg's statement in front of the Select board a few years ago. The total 1% revenues have averaged around 750k in recent years.

The above newspaper quote is the only public statement available as no mention was made of this in either the 12/6/16 or the 12/20/16 Select Board meeting minutes. A certain amount of this story was from word of mouth.

To clarify further this is a proposed budget item for the fiscal 2018 town budget. If it is in fact in the proposed budget up for a vote on town meeting day it will only be a line item (if that) in the overall budget. Traditionally such large unusual expenditures were put up directly for a vote through an article so the voters had a direct say. Part of the reason for this post is to make sure this $100,000 doesn't get buried in the budget and people are informed of it when voting on the budget. I would rather see it as an article for town meeting day.

As far as Durkee's properties: he owns Mountain Side Properties which owns land above High Ridge, the Market, Fireside, the property (if not the business) where Back Country Cafe is, land on Rte 4 near the Gondola base, and god knows what else.
In the land swap he got what is known a Mountain Side II which is near his Mountain Side properties.

[ndscaper]

https://astheskiturns.blogspot.com/2016 ... t-ski.html

Read the blog and the Selectboard minutes but I don't see anything further on the "gift". Can you elaborate?

I did a search also and don't see anything relating to this. If it's true they gifted $100,000 in taxpayer money to K resort then the selectboard is comprised of a bunch of morons!

As far as Durkee, what properties/land does he own in the area? I think he owns the Killington market, correct? What else? I'm curious what land he got.

From the Vermont Standard 12/8/16:

"Bianchi made an impassioned plea to include $100,000 of revenue from the options tax as a town sponsorship for the effort to bring the FIS World Cup Women’s Ski Races back to Killington next year. He said it’s an appropriate way to invest the tax funds, which are meant to support local businesses.
“This year’s event was a huge success,” he said. “Killington businesses benefitted significantly. If we can help bring the same result next year I think it would be the right thing to do.”
McGrath said Mike Salimano, president and CEO of Killington Resort, told her the event had a bigger negative financial result than they had expected, and he worries they can’t afford to lose that much every year. She thinks in that light Bianchi’s suggestion is a good idea.
“The options tax covers 20 percent of the town’s budget every year,” she said. “The money comes from work and services provided by our local businesses, and their success is what we should be investing it in.”
Bianchi acknowledged that the voters might turn down the investment at Town Meeting, but he thinks it should be proposed.
“Just a few years ago the people in town said it was high time for the Resort to show some action and not just words,” he said. “Well, now the Resort has stepped up with action and it’s time the town did the same.”

One clarification of Ms. McGrath's statement “The money comes from work and services provided by our local businesses..". The money mostly comes from the patrons of these businesses and the bulk of that from the patrons of the Resort, about $500,000 according to Chris Nyberg's statement in front of the Select board a few years ago. The total 1% revenues have averaged around 750k in recent years.

The above newspaper quote is the only public statement available as no mention was made of this in either the 12/6/16 or the 12/20/16 Select Board meeting minutes. A certain amount of this story was from word of mouth.

To clarify further this is a proposed budget item for the fiscal 2018 town budget. If it is in fact in the proposed budget up for a vote on town meeting day it will only be a line item (if that) in the overall budget. Traditionally such large unusual expenditures were put up directly for a vote through an article so the voters had a direct say. Part of the reason for this post is to make sure this $100,000 doesn't get buried in the budget and people are not informed of it when voting on the budget. I would rather see it as a article for town meeting day.

As far as Durkee's properties: he owns Mountain Side Properties which owns land above High Ridge, the Market, Fireside, the property (if not the business) where Back Country Cafe is, land on Rte 4 near the Gondola base, and god knows what else.
In the land swap he got what is known a Mountain Side II which is near his Mountain Side properties.

Since posting the above I have learned that the $100,000 has not been voted on and is currently still a proposal and the Select Board is considering whether to issue an article on it for town meeting day.

[Bubba]

https://astheskiturns.blogspot.com/2016 ... t-ski.html

Read the blog and the Selectboard minutes but I don't see anything further on the "gift". Can you elaborate?

I did a search also and don't see anything relating to this. If it's true they gifted $100,000 in taxpayer money to K resort then the selectboard is comprised of a bunch of morons!

As far as Durkee, what properties/land does he own in the area? I think he owns the Killington market, correct? What else? I'm curious what land he got.

From the Vermont Standard 12/8/16:

"Bianchi made an impassioned plea to include $100,000 of revenue from the options tax as a town sponsorship for the effort to bring the FIS World Cup Women’s Ski Races back to Killington next year. He said it’s an appropriate way to invest the tax funds, which are meant to support local businesses.
“This year’s event was a huge success,” he said. “Killington businesses benefitted significantly. If we can help bring the same result next year I think it would be the right thing to do.”
McGrath said Mike Salimano, president and CEO of Killington Resort, told her the event had a bigger negative financial result than they had expected, and he worries they can’t afford to lose that much every year. She thinks in that light Bianchi’s suggestion is a good idea.
“The options tax covers 20 percent of the town’s budget every year,” she said. “The money comes from work and services provided by our local businesses, and their success is what we should be investing it in.”
Bianchi acknowledged that the voters might turn down the investment at Town Meeting, but he thinks it should be proposed.
“Just a few years ago the people in town said it was high time for the Resort to show some action and not just words,” he said. “Well, now the Resort has stepped up with action and it’s time the town did the same.”

One clarification of Ms. McGrath's statement “The money comes from work and services provided by our local businesses..". The money mostly comes from the patrons of these businesses and the bulk of that from the patrons of the Resort, about $500,000 according to Chris Nyberg's statement in front of the Select board a few years ago. The total 1% revenues have averaged around 750k in recent years.

The above newspaper quote is the only public statement available as no mention was made of this in either the 12/6/16 or the 12/20/16 Select Board meeting minutes. A certain amount of this story was from word of mouth.

To clarify further this is a proposed budget item for the fiscal 2018 town budget. If it is in fact in the proposed budget up for a vote on town meeting day it will only be a line item (if that) in the overall budget. Traditionally such large unusual expenditures were put up directly for a vote through an article so the voters had a direct say. Part of the reason for this post is to make sure this $100,000 doesn't get buried in the budget and people are not informed of it when voting on the budget. I would rather see it as a article for town meeting day.

As far as Durkee's properties: he owns Mountain Side Properties which owns land above High Ridge, the Market, Fireside, the property (if not the business) where Back Country Cafe is, land on Rte 4 near the Gondola base, and god knows what else.
In the land swap he got what is known a Mountain Side II which is near his Mountain Side properties.

Since posting the above I have learned that the $100,000 has not been voted on and is currently still a proposal and the Select Board is considering whether to issue an article on it for town meeting day.

In another thread on the WC weekend event, the following was posted about what Mike said at the Sunrise owners' meeting:

What Mike said was that they budgeted 2.5 million to put on the event (and it came in at roughly that), and FIS paid them $1.0 million. That doesn't mean they lost $1.5 million. However it was not a money maker. There were some ongoing intangible benefits to Killington for putting on this event, not strictly financial.

Frankly, while there is clearly a benefit to the town and the resort from various events held here, and the town should provide some support to events in their developmental stages, I don't believe the town's support should include covering unexpected expenses after the fact. If put to a vote, my vote will be "no" subject, of course, to reconsideration once all sides are heard at Town Meeting.

[Bubba]

I reread the article and now admit to some confusion. While there is reference made to the event having cost more than originally expected, it looks as if the proposed funding contribution is to support future WC events rather than as aide to cover this recent event. If that is the case, then I would support some level of funding. Whether the proposed $100K is the right amount remains to be seen but, at least conceptually, support from the town is warranted.

[SnoBrdr]

I reread the article and now admit to some confusion. While there is reference made to the event having cost more than originally expected, it looks as if the proposed funding contribution is to support future WC events rather than as aide to cover this recent event. If that is the case, then I would support some level of funding. Whether the proposed $100K is the right amount remains to be seen but, at least conceptually, support from the town is warranted.

Wasn't the whole idea for the 1% tax, before it got bastardized, to support tourism.

Seems like a good example to do just that.

The Town or whomever does tourism should do a study of the local businesses to determine if their revenues were up over comparable time periods of the past.

This of course is based on the idea that the businesses would be honest.

[Bubba]

I reread the article and now admit to some confusion. While there is reference made to the event having cost more than originally expected, it looks as if the proposed funding contribution is to support future WC events rather than as aide to cover this recent event. If that is the case, then I would support some level of funding. Whether the proposed $100K is the right amount remains to be seen but, at least conceptually, support from the town is warranted.

Wasn't the whole idea for the 1% tax, before it got bastardized, to support tourism.

Seems like a good example to do just that.

The Town or whomever does tourism should do a study of the local businesses to determine if their revenues were up over comparable time periods of the past.

This of course is based on the idea that the businesses would be honest.

You don't need businesses to report. All you need is year over year options tax revenue and/or rooms and meals tax revenues.

[Stormchaser]

I reread the article and now admit to some confusion. While there is reference made to the event having cost more than originally expected, it looks as if the proposed funding contribution is to support future WC events rather than as aide to cover this recent event. If that is the case, then I would support some level of funding. Whether the proposed $100K is the right amount remains to be seen but, at least conceptually, support from the town is warranted.

Wasn't the whole idea for the 1% tax, before it got bastardized, to support tourism.

Seems like a good example to do just that.

The Town or whomever does tourism should do a study of the local businesses to determine if their revenues were up over comparable time periods of the past.

This of course is based on the idea that the businesses would be honest.

Perhaps an opportunity for the local businesses to also submit requests for costs associated with attracting customers to town during the same time period. The entire access road should be putting it's best foot forward that weekend... If K gets 100K to pull in tourists, can the Pickle get some money to bring in some bigger acts that weekend? Can the Foundry hire some ice sculptors to put on a couple shows on the option tax dollar? Can the Lookout get some cash to build an outdoor ice bar/party tent? My vote is to give Mountain Green Condos 10K so that they can have Blackdog Sports give away 10K worth of skis that weekend. Hello increased business!

[ndscaper]

I reread the article and now admit to some confusion. While there is reference made to the event having cost more than originally expected, it looks as if the proposed funding contribution is to support future WC events rather than as aide to cover this recent event. If that is the case, then I would support some level of funding. Whether the proposed $100K is the right amount remains to be seen but, at least conceptually, support from the town is warranted.

So given the town has spent at least two million dollars (250k plus annually since the advent of the 1% in 2008) and is planning to spend at least that amount on "Marketing and Events" this year, as well as millions more on infrastructure, roads, way finding, visitor center, bike trails, etc. during the same period, what should this $100,000 be spent on - bribes to FIS officials to entice them to come here? Powdr is the player who will entice more WC events here not the town of Killington. What could the town possibly do to convince FIS to keep WC events coming here?
The event was a huge success, drawing the biggest crowds ever to a WC event and was the first WC event to sell admission.
If these things are not enough to bring the WC back here I don't think the town spending $100,000 as a "Strategic Investment" (even that name sounds bogus) on god knows what, is going to bring the event back here.
If Powdr and the Resort deem it as a long term profitable venture they will spend the money required to bring the event here. They are a business - the town isn't. Any money the town expends will ultimately show up in the resort's bottom line since the only logical "Strategic Investment" the town can make is to assume some of the resort's expenses in staging the event.
This situation is similar to what happened a couple of years ago. The Resort lobbied to get rid of the 1% tax by telling the town that they would be investing millions in summer amenities - the inference being they might not if the 1% was not rescinded. It wasn't and Powdr and the Resort still invested millions into mountain bike trails, zip lines, etc. This created a buzz and summer business increased for them and the Killington Road businesses without the town doing anything except what it was going to do anyway.
Why doesn't the town just issue checks to the Killington road businesses and see how much they are willing to spend on "Strategic Investments", "Marketing and Events" and so on.