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PCMR v. Talisker: mayor expresses doubts about progress

Mayor Jack Thomas on Monday issued a prepared statement that appears to express doubts about the progress being made by Park City Mountain Resort and Talisker Land Holdings, LLC as the two sides in a high-profile lawsuit attempt to reach an agreement through mediation.

A filing late last week by Talisker Land Holdings, LLC apparently prompted the mayor’s statement. Talisker Land Holdings, LLC and Vail Resorts indicated they would not oppose a PCMR request to stay the enforcement of an eviction order if the resort side posts a bond. The amount of the bond has not been set. Vail Resorts is overseeing the case as part of its long-term agreement to operate the Talisker corporate family-owned Canyons Resort. The deal could be extended to the disputed land underlying most of PCMR’s terrain depending on the outcome of the case.

"This latest statement by Talisker only further confirms what has become an all too disturbing pattern of public statements devoid of any real or meaningful solution. For either party to operate the resort next season, each must be willing to compromise and leave something on the table," Thomas said.

Thomas, meanwhile, says there "appears to be a serious disconnect between what both Talisker/Vail and Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) claim they want and what the community is getting – a fully operational ski resort next season and beyond."

He said there needs to be an agreement that ensures PCMR operates during the upcoming ski season. There have been increasing worries in recent weeks, particularly by the business community and City Hall, about the impacts of PCMR not operating during the 2014-2015 ski season.

"Any attempt to lighten the burden of litigation by narrowing the issues is positive and reassuring. Yet it remains unclear what Talisker/Vail is giving up by this action, and provides no solace for the thousands of area residents and businesses who continue to live in uncertainty," Thomas said.

City Hall was largely uninvolved in the case until recently. Park City leaders, though, became worried about the effects on the community, including the local economy, if PCMR did not open for a ski season or operations were greatly scaled back as a result of the lawsuit.

Thomas in mid-June sent a letter to the top executives at PCMR parent Powdr Corp. and Vail Resorts saying he and the Park City Council were "disappointed" in the progress. Thomas in the letter said City Hall would pay to hire a mediator. The judge ordered the sides into mediation shortly afterward.

The mayor’s Monday statement:

"While we applaud Talisker’s statement that they are mindful of the uncertainty this legal proceeding is having on the community and the upcoming 2014/2015 ski season, there appears to be a serious disconnect between what both Talisker/Vail and Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) claim they want and what the community is getting — a fully operational ski resort next season and beyond.

This latest statement by Talisker only further confirms what has become an all too disturbing pattern of public statements devoid of any real or meaningful solution. For either party to operate the resort next season, each must be willing to compromise and leave something on the table.

Any attempt to lighten the burden of litigation by narrowing the issues is positive and reassuring. Yet it remains unclear what Talisker/Vail is giving up by this action, and provides no solace for the thousands of area residents and businesses who continue to live in uncertainty.

Though Talisker claims minor progress, there remains an immediate need for a short-term solution that confirms resort operations this year. If the parties cannot mutually agree upon a bond amount, Talisker/Vail and PCMR should continue to consider a broad range of attainable short-term solutions that meet their public commitments to support our community, businesses, and residents with a fully operational resort.

Lastly, it shouldn’t be lost on anyone that this so-called "non-opposition" statement comes at a time when mediation is underway, yet PCMR and Talisker/Vail still have not accounted for resort operations for the 2014/2015 ski season."


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