Grand Mesa Nordic Council

Board Meeting

January 21, 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, Hailey Coughlin, and Beth Klein

Guests: John Rankin, Dusty Dodson

Dan called the meeting to order at 6:01pm and read the GMNC mission statement.

1. 30 min Public Comment Period. John Rankin provided feedback on his desire for changing up approaches to grooming to include grooming during the middle of the day. Dusty Dodson discussed the challenges faced by the ski resort, including the remote location, difficulty in accessing the area, and issues with fuel delivery. 

1. Minutes. Tom moved and Susie seconded to approve the December 2024 minutes as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

1. Monthly Financials. Christine provided the monthly financials report that was included in the Board packet. Christine provided a financial update, highlighting that the organization is in an excellent financial position despite a larger than expected Snowcat Bill for last summer’s repairs and maintenance. Revenues for December were up 24% over the previous year, and year-to-date revenues were up 42%. The combined balance sheet showed a strong financial position, with fundraising and donations being the primary drivers. There were some questions about the categorization of membership dues and individual donations, which Christine clarified. Dan also noted that CERF donations were up significantly. Christine also mentioned that the 990 update had been filed and accepted by the IRS, and that the budget was adopted in June. The Finance Committee had no recommendations for any budget changes at this time. Lastly, Christine provided updates on investments, including the reinvestment of a CD and the sale of a donated mutual fund.

Building Fund and Financial Transparency – Christine reported that the building fund is yielding around $40,000 to $50,000 annually and that no building money has been used for operating costs, except for covering some salaries for Christy and Melissa’s time spent on the building. Dan clarified that the organization has not spent a single dime of building money on any sort of operations. John and Dusty expressed concerns about the use of interest earnings from the building fund, but Christine clarified that the $7,200 was from interest earnings. The team also discussed the upcoming external audit and the need for transparency in their financial dealings. Christie also shared her positive feedback on the season’s progress and the community’s response to their events. Lastly, she expressed concerns about the CPW grant for the trail expansion, stating that the committee might not fully understand the winter trails’ impact and usage.

1. Friluftsliv Festival. The Friluftsliv event on March 1st will be a community ski festival with non-alcoholic refreshments, a scavenger hunt, a vintage ski contest, and costumes are welcome. It is meant to celebrate the joys of winter and skiing in a festive atmosphere at the County Line trailhead. While it started as a ski-a-thon fundraiser last year, the focus this year is just on having fun rather than fundraising. However, John and Susie offered to help raise some funds through individual sponsorships like last year.

1. Building Project Updates and Costs. Dan provides updates on the building project. The 60% design has been approved by the Forest Service with minor comments on aesthetics. The architects have value engineered the cat shed to reduce costs by $25,000. Tate is working on a draw schedule to plan the financial investment needed based on estimates. The building cost estimate is around $950,000, with an additional $50,000-$100,000 for the solar system. Tate recommends having a $50,000 contingency fund. The total cost including contingency is estimated to be over $1 million. Dan suggests potentially stretching the project over two seasons to fund the cat shed in a later phase. The Forest Service has indicated they will only allow one building, but Dan has proposed adding a fuel shelter which is still under consideration. The lawyer is reviewing the construction contract which will be available by end of January. No final decisions are made, as the board wants to review the contract before voting.

1. Project Financial Status and Future Plans. Dan, John, Tom, Nike, Sue, and Christine discussed the project’s financial status, including the need for additional fundraising and the potential for splitting the project into two phases. They also discussed the need for a concrete pad for the fuel cube, which would require further investigation. The team agreed to schedule the next board meeting for March 11th, with the possibility of discussing bids for the building project. They also discussed the importance of considering future maintenance costs and the potential for negotiating with vendors. The team acknowledged the need for more information before making decisions about the project’s direction.

The Board moved into Executive Session at 8:02pm. The Board will next meet on March 11th.

Respectfully submitted,

Marguerite Tuthill

Secretary