Mountain town and community news
By Allen Best
TRUCKEE, Calif. – Has “economic diversification” not been included in the goal list of any ski town in the last five years? Truckee, Calif., has some of that diversification, 300 full-time employees who work for a national real estate data services company called Clear Capital. But Clear Capital, with the need to expand, is eyeing its options. Moonshine Ink reports that two of its options would be to stay in Truckee, where company officials seem to have their heart. But it is more expensive to operate in a mountain town, plus the snow gets really, really deep in Truckee at times and the temperatures get really, really cold. How about Reno, just a few miles away, but significantly lower in elevation, more temperate in climate, with more of the mid-sized city amenities. Plus, Nevada seems to be willing to throw in plenty of economic development schwagg. Tony Lashbrook, Town Manager of Truckee, doesn’t think Truckee will necessarily lose the company’s $25 million annual payroll. “Nevada has the ability to wheel and deal with tax incentives that we don’t have. It’s cheaper to do business in Nevada than California,” he says. “If they are making a strictly financial decision, they would move to Nevada, but I don’t think that is the case.”
Big Sky on a roll
BIG SKY, Mont. – Big Sky, the resort community near Yellowstone National Park, seems to be on a roll. Ownership of the three ski areas—Big Sky, Yellowstone Club and Moonlight Basin—has been consolidated under the flag of CrossHarbor Capital. Meanwhile, plans are afoot for a major grocery store, a medical center and other components that define mountain towns. But it is still not a legally formed town. Can it be? Under Montana law, notes the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the community already meets the three criteria established by the Montana Legislature. But several key individuals at Big Sky think incorporation is unlikely. One of them, Bill Simkins, developer of the Big Sky Town Center, points out that special-purpose districts already provide water and sewer, fire protection and transportation. They deliver these services in both the ski area component of Big Sky, which is in Madison County, and the resort community, which is in Gallatin County. Under Montana law, a municipality cannot cross county lines. The Daily Chronicle says that the special-purpose districts are funded by a 3 percent resort tax collected by the Big Sky Resort Area District. Collections totaled $3.1 million in the last fiscal year. Simkins tells the newspaper that the impact fees levied by a municipality would have been a “real impediment” to getting the grocery store and medical center built. Real estate development has been gaining momentum in Big Sky. Ryan Hamilton, project manager for Big Sky Town Center, reported that 70 condominiums have been completed recently. He also said that after just 2 commercial buildings in the last five years, construction is likely to begin on five more this year. An attempt to incorporate occurred in 2007, but was defeated.
ICARE postpones dinner
ICARE (Inyo/Mono County Animal Resources and Education) has been busy with a fund-raising campaign for the new Inyo County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center planned for construction in Big Pine. Because all of its efforts are being directed to this once-in-a-lifetime undertaking, the ICARE Board has decided to postpone this year’s popular ICARE dinner in April. ICARE is Inyo and Mono Counties’ largest and oldest non-profit animal welfare organization and its fund-raising campaign is the culmination of a 17-year effort to replace Inyo County’s old and inadequate animal shelter. So far, the campaign has raised $500,000 in public donations for the $800,000 facility. With Inyo County’s $200,000 commitment to the project, only $100,000 more is needed to fully fund the new facility. “A new Animal Shelter has been a dream of our organization since we were founded in 1996,” says ICARE President Ted Schade. “Now that Inyo County is also fully committed to the project, we need to make it happen in 2014. In order to fully focus on our Raise the Roof campaign, the ICARE Board has made the difficult decision to forego the annual fundraising dinner this Spring.” It takes an enormous effort by a small group of people to organize a meal for 700 and secure the hundreds of auction items and door prizes necessary for a successful dinner. In addition, with the closing of Whiskey Creek Restaurant, which donated all the labor and the kitchen to prepare the biggest annual meal in Inyo County, ICARE would need to start from scratch on the meal planning. “What we would like to see is a big celebration when the new shelter is completed later this year,” Schade said. “We will keep everyone updated on plans for a Grand Opening and we hope to see each and every ICARE supporter there, as we will have something to celebrate in a really big way!” For more information about the shelter fundraiser, ICARE’s animal welfare programs, and how you can help, visit: www.ICAREforPets.org
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
February is national Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. According to the CDC, in a recent national survey, 1 in 10 teens reported being hit or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend at least once in the 12 months prior to the survey. Dating violence can happen to any teen in a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship, anytime, anywhere. Additionally, there are many long-term effects that come from teen dating violence, including isolation from family and friends, suicide attempts and the inability to succeed in school or at work later in life. “When relationship violence begins in the teen years, the violence that these young people later experience as adults tends to be more severe,” said Susi Bains, Director of Programs for Wild Iris. “Preventing teen dating violence is critical not only to support healthy adolescents, but also as a strategy to eliminate the adult domestic violence that affects millions of Californians. Wild Iris, a community-based non-profit agency, is committed to promoting, providing and sustaining programs of education and prevention, crisis intervention, advocacy and support for those affected by domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. Our vision is for non-violent relationships based on dignity, respect, compassion and equality. Services are confidential and provided free of charge. Wild Iris 24-hour hotline #: 877-873-7384.
