The Ski Tour is a go, but the city of Sun Valley will not pay $10,000 directly to the event as initially requested by its representatives.
Instead, Mayor Jon Thorson will enter into a contract for services with The Ski Tour and will fund the city police and fire departments to provide services for the event, up to $10,000.
The Ski Tour is a combination of world-class skiing and headliner bands. Several of the best skiers in the world will be featured in skiercross and half pipe competitions on Bald and Dollar mountains. In addition, the tour will close off sections of downtown Ketchum and feature stages where some of the biggest musical acts of today, including The Wailers, Don Carlos, Tommy Lee and more, will provide off-mountain entertainment. The Ski Tour will be in town Jan. 11-15.
Marisa Nelson, associate planner for the Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Department, said total police and fire department costs are estimated at $9,800.
Police Chief Cam Daggett said he estimates Sun Valley will be responsible for staffing 172 hours at $50 per hour, totaling $8,600. Fire Chief Jeff Carnes sees his department shouldering roughly 48 hours of service at $25 per hour for staffing the fireworks display and providing emergency personnel and traffic management totaling $1,200.
City Attorney Rand Peebles voiced the need to seek a written agreement that damages, claims of personal injury and the like be included in a legal agreement. This would ensure The Ski Tour and its subcontractors, not the city, are responsible for such claims.
Although the council endorsed The Ski Tour, questions remain as to exactly where the city's monetary commitments should end. A formal report on the matter, filed by Nelson, Daggett and Carnes, recommends the city seek compensation from the tour for any service costs that exceed $10,000.
"I think this is a great event, and I don't like if it exceeds $10,000 they have to pay us," Councilman Blair Boand said.
Boand went so far as to suggest if "at the end of the day our expenses come to only $7,000, we should pay them."
Councilwoman Ann Agnew disagreed. "I want to support them with services but I don't not want to give them a check back."
Councilman Nils Ribi agreed.
"If our guys (police and fire) are efficient, I don't think we should be punished," he said.
Mayor Jon Thorson had the final say, agreeing with Ribi and Agnew and approving to "support The Ski Tour with $10,000 of in-kind services."
The motion passed unanimously.
