Grand Mesa Nordic Council

Board Meeting

February 18, 2025

Zoom

Board members present: Tom Ela, Dan Tille, Susie Attaway, Marguerite Tuthill, John Traylor, Christine Noel, and Nike VanArsdale

Board members not present: Ben Graves

Staff present: Christie Aschwanden, Tigran Bailey, and Beth Klein

Guests: Marilyn Kastens

Dan Tille called the meeting to order at 6:02pm and read the GMNC mission statement.

1. 30 min Public Comment Period. Marilyn introduced herself to the Board and shared her potential interest in joining the Board.

1. Minutes. Tom moved and John seconded to approve the January 2025 minutes with the discussed changes. Motion passed unanimously.

1. Monthly Financials. Christine provided the monthly financials report that was included in the Board packet. Christine reports that operating expenses are 16% higher than last year, but fundraising has outperformed last year in every category. The organization has a healthy net operating revenue of nearly $18,000 year-to-date, compared to a negative $4,130 last year. GMNC is in a good position to increase reserves for operations and a future snowcat. John notes that GMNC is on track to meet its budget, with about $35,000 left to raise, of which $22,500 is expected from county grants. Despite raising fees, membership has increased, which is attributed to effective messaging and grooming efforts.

1. Executive Director Update. Christie provided her written report in the Board packet. Christie expressed gratitude for Beth’s support, highlighting her role in managing tax credits. The number of new and recurring donors showed positive trends. Christie also emphasized the team’s efforts in managing challenging conditions, particularly in snow conditions. The website transition was noted as smooth, except for some missing pages. The Trail Ambassadors Program was highlighted as successful. The rescheduling of the Kids Winter Games was mentioned, and the success of an event by Friends of Youth in Nature was praised. The ski school’s master’s program was reported to be going well, and plans were discussed for future events. The Women’s Wednesdays program was noted as successful, and the end-of-season parties were confirmed for April. The board members were thanked for their support of the Lions Day parade.

Partnerships and Outdoors Alliance Updates – Christie reported that the ambassador program was well-received, with no negative interactions or complaints. Dan mentioned a potential issue with the Forest Service’s staffing, which could impact their operations. Christie introduced the West Slope Outdoors Alliance, a regional partnership funded by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and mentioned that they had received a letter of support for a grant. Nike observed that snowshoers have been adhering to the program guidelines this year.

1. Operations Update. Tigran discussed the challenges of maintaining the snowcat and snowmobiles, including an oil leak and overheating issues. He mentioned that he has been developing a new method to start the snowcat faster and has found the oil block heater more efficient than the Webasto unit. Tigran also mentioned that the team he is training is able to get most of the area groomed and do a satisfactory job. He also mentioned that they are only getting fuel delivered twice a month due to the lack of logging on the Mesa and the reduced snowfall. Dan and Susie expressed their appreciation for Tigran and the team’s work, noting that the grooming conditions have been excellent. Dan also asked about the training of Jared and Hannah, to which Tigran responded that they are getting there but are not yet ready for grooming the entire system.

1. Skyway Station Update. Dan provided an update on the pre-construction work. The WCCF meeting was successful, with positive feedback received. The grant application for the Goodwin Foundation has been submitted, with results expected in early March. Tate has provided a construction timeline, suggesting potential completion by December 2025 or January 2026 if groundbreaking occurs in June 2025. The project currently has enough funds to build the main structure, basement, and solar system, with contingency funds included. Bids received so far are below estimates, but this trend may not continue. The 30-day public comment period for Forest Service approval is underway, and the team is awaiting final approval. Tate is expected to provide final bids by the end of the month, which will allow for discussions about tax credits with suppliers.

Building Insurance and Property Tax – Dan clarified the insurance status for the building, stating that the insurance company is likely to insure it, despite being in a national forest. He also mentioned the potential property tax burden on the nonprofit organization. Tom suggested that the building could be insured under GMNC’s primary residence, which Nike acknowledged as a possibility. Nike also mentioned that the building could be insured through GMNC’s primary residence or a personal property. Dan mentioned that they have a quote from an insurance company for a builder’s risk policy. The team also discussed their ongoing research on the property tax issue. Additionally, Dan announced that they met with a lawyer to review Tate’s contract for the building, and the lawyer will be redlining the document with a few clarifications.

Fundraising, Building Progress, and Solar Plans – Dan discussed the progress of the fundraising efforts, expressing hope that the Goodwin Foundation, WCCF, and Enterprise Zone tax credit could reduce the remaining amount to be fundraised to around $100,000 or less. He mentioned a conversation with a donor who was waiting to see where efforts ended up before giving money. Dan also discussed the building’s construction, including the excavation and concrete work for the cat shed, and the solar system’s potential use. Tigran suggested using a timer to run the solar system for a few hours before use, which Dan agreed could be beneficial. The team also discussed the location of the solar panels and the responsibility of the operations team to clear snow from them. Susie thanked Dan for his hard work and diligence, and John suggested following up with the State Energy Office for potential grants. Dan also mentioned a Federal grant possibility but expressed low hopes for its success.

1. Future Board Meeting Dates. 

March 12, 6-8p, Zoom

April 22, 6-8p, Zoom

May 14, 5:30-6p (Board potluck), 6-8p (Board meeting), in-person at Delta

The Board adjourned at 7:50pm. The Board will next meet on March 12th via Zoom.

Respectfully submitted,

Marguerite Tuthill

Secretary