Mammoth Dog Teams

Mammoth Dog Teams has a new lease on life … at least for one more year. The Board of Supervisors extended Jim Ouimet’s lease. 

As many businesses know, the winter of 2011/12 has not been kind. One such business that has suffered deeply due to the lack of snow is Mammoth Dog Teams. Due to his inability to conduct business for most of the winter (where do you run a dog sled team without any snow?), Mammoth Dog Teams owner Jim Ouimet came to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to ask for an extension on his use permit and lease at the old Sheriff’s Substation. As it stood, Ouimet was expected to vacate the building by July 31, 2012.

“I’m in extremely uncharted waters right now,” Ouimet said.

Supervisor Hap Hazard asked if he had a failure plan for maintaining his dogs if things didn’t turn around. Ouimet said he would have to sell the dogs off.

“The County has no definitive use for that building right now,” said Supervisor Tim Hansen. “I don’t want to put you out in the cold.”

At first Supervisor Vikki Bauer balked at the idea of helping one business when others were also suffering.

“I don’t want the Board to pick and choose winners,” she said. “I don’t have anywhere to go and get help for my business.”

Supervisor Larry Johnston however, put helping Ouimet in the same light as helping support fish, citing them both as economic drivers. Supervisor Bauer was able to get on board with helping Ouimet after hearing this comparison.

The supervisors voted 5-0 to extend the lease for one year. An additional three months was tacked on to the motion to allow Ouimet to move out of the building after the lease was up, giving Mammoth Dog Teams until Oct. 31, 2013 to come up with alternative plans. Ouimet will continue to pay $500 per month in rent to the County.