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Kamiskotia turns to city for help paying off back taxes

They're asking for a $160,000 grant
2019-09-13 Kamiskotia MH
Kamiskotia Snow Resort general manager Eric Philipow and director Reilly Heffernan talk to council. Maija Hoggett/TimminsToday

As Kamiskotia Snow Resort looks to get back on track, it's turning to the city for help.

At the Sept. 10 Timmins council meeting the ski hill's general manager Eric Philipow and director Reilly Heffernan asked for a $160,000 grant to cover the resort's tax arrears. They suggested it could be one lump-sum payment or spread out over five years.

With a good winter for skiing last year, Philipow said they took advantage, paid down debt and that there are basically the back taxes left. 

“We did reinvest as much as we could. We had to do some upgrades to the chalet, we did the roof on the shop, we have to think about a new groomer,” he said.

While they were profitable, he said they're limited on where they can go, and the city grant would let them get ahead.

“When we’re looking at our 10-year asset management plan, we need about $1.5 million to get things back up,” he said, noting the last time there was a major improvement at the hill was about 30 years ago.

Every year, Kamiskotia pays about $38,000 in taxes, which includes taxes for the chalets at the hill.

Director of finance Natalie Moore said there is currently $170,000 and change outstanding from the hill. She said the last statement sent was $159,000, so the larger number includes the final tax bill and interest.

If council approves the grant, she suggested a lump-sum payment so the account doesn't accrue interest every year.

While council's supportive of helping out, there is some hesitation. 

“I’ve sat around this table for a little bit and we got into some trouble with Kamiskotia ski hill with them making promises and re-negging and that’s something that’s in the back of my mind, but I don’t want to live in the past, I want to live in the present,” said Coun. Andrew Marks.

Mayor George Pirie noted council has supported the hill to a huge degree over the years.

“I can support entirely the value of this resort to the City of Timmins and what it means to us, but I do want to see a business plan, and I do want to see financial statements, and I do want to see a way forward that we can all endorse,” he said.

Aside from the winter activities at the hill, Heffernan explained how the non-profit has expanded its offerings recently.

It now boasts the 705 motocross track for dirt biking, and there have been 14 weddings out there this year. They are also looking to cut mountain bike trails. 

He said they have also cut 13 per cent of their operating costs, allowing them to operate at a profit.

Moving forward, he said, “our commitment is we’ve created a tax account that as we collect funds for taxes it goes straight into that account so we can’t use it for anything else so that we continue in the future to make sure our taxes get paid.”

Kamiskotia's request to council was made in a presentation No decision was made Tuesday on whether or not to approve the funding.