Snowhaven Project Committee Minutes
November 20, 2023 – 4:30 P.M.
Council Chambers
Members Present: Wes Lester, Tonya Kennedy, Gabe Forsmann, Scott Wasem, Tara Connolley
Update on T-Bar maintenance
Line Work: All line work is done, bushings, bearings and shiv liners are replaced. Shives are picked up but still need to be installed.
Frequency Drive: We had the quote from Kris Shears on the drive, but he had assumed we had 3 phase power, but Snowhaven doesn’t. Jerry Brown came up and checked it out and said it would work with what we have. The frequency drive is ordered and will arrive around January 12th; then Kris will install. It will have a service disconnect on it.
New T-Bars: A rough quote building from scratch is about $2700 each. All new spring boxes about $150,000 through Doppelmayr. We have 1 from Bald Eagle lifts to try this season. It was $800 but we aren’t sure it will really work. Patrick’s Machine built one just like ours but brand new.
Other: RJ Knight completed the inspection on the cable. It passed inspection, but a new cable would be about $16,000. After the frequency system is installed, we could have it x-rayed for $10,000 or new for $16,000. Committee recommended moving forward to purchase a new cable to be installed next summer by RJ Knight since it’s so close in price. If all this is done, then the T-bar would be basically brand new once the new Ts are purchased.
Other: Scott had talked to Cody Edwards about gifting or purchasing land at the end of tubing hill for the shop. It is already subdivided into four splits so the city could purchase 1 lot which is about 6 acres for $140,000.
Update on new groomer
Gabe and Scott decided on the 2019 Bison. When they were looking at Peterson, they said a trade in of about $15,000-$20,000. The sales guy felt $5,000 if the city was lucky. Cottonwood is interested in the old groomer. Gabe felt we need to have both groomers up there this season. The old groomer is modified to work close to the T-bar. We may need to make a few modifications to the hill to have the new groomer work correctly. Tonya felt we should not have two groomers long term.
Maintenance Shop/Groomer Shop
There was discussion that you’d get more bang for your buck if build ski patrol and the shop together under one roof. The location could be by the T-bar or tubing hill as they both have easy access to power. Scott suggested a 40’x60’ shop; maybe a red iron building with slab which would be insulated as they put it up. Tara stated it may be better to put in a new sewer system for shop, rather than try to connect to the old system.
Discussion Ski Patrol Building
A Ski Patrol building shell only 16’x36’ is $14,000. Gabe questioned what the committee thought about a yurt like other ski areas. A 30’ yurt is about $15,000. The sides and roof are canvas and it includes insulation. Gabe felt there should be water in ski patrol building.
Next meeting: November 30th at 1:30 pm at Snowhaven
