After Measure U Committee concerns and lots of public comment, the Council voted unanimously for a loan from Measure U.The Mammoth Town Council already unanimously approved of taking out a loan from Measure U, utility users’ tax, funds to pay for a summer and fall air service subsidy, but Wednesday night they will officially consider a resolution that spells out the loan.

In the face of some controversy and opposition from the citizens’ Measure U  Committee, the Town Council favors what they view as forestalling a major risk to air service to Mammoth Lakes.  According to Mammoth Mountain CEO Rusty Gregory, Alaska Airlines officials said they would cancel all service to Mammoth if there were no summer/ fall air service guarantee.  Gregory said Mammoth Mountain had to scale back its share of the subsidy due to demands from banks that hold major loans on the Mountain.

The resolution on the $325,000 loan is item 20 on Wednesday night’s agenda. The Town says the general fund will repay the loan either next fiscal year or the fiscal year after that.  In addition to Mammoth’s funds, Mammoth Mountain will pay $300,000 and Mammoth Lakes Tourism, $150,000.

Wednesday night’s meeting will start at 3:30 to interview Recreation Commission applicants – Elizabeth Truax, Bill Sauser, Donald Soucy, Teri Stehlik and Sean Turner.  The regular meeting starts at 6pm. The Council will initially go into closed session for litigation discussions and labor negotiation talks.

After that, a five-year service award will go to Police Officer Art Torres.  Then, the Council will consider resolutions that set the annual levy of assessments in the areas of Old Mammoth Road, North Village, Juniper Ridge and The Bluffs.

After consideration of the air service subsidy loan, the Council will either consider or actually appoint people to the Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Board, the Recreation Commission, and Airport Commission.  They will schedule interviews for Planning Commission applicants, reduce the Mobility Commission to three members and appoint applicants.

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