Heidi Preuss: Taxpayers in Belknap County want value of Gunstock to increase

To The Daily Sun,

As a Belknap County resident, I consider myself a shareholder of the Gunstock ski area and like any invested shareholder I want to see my stock value go up. That means the business pays out dividends and can reduce our tax burden. Right now we have the most experienced management team we’ve ever had with over 50 years experience in the business of running ski areas, Gary Kiedaisch and Tom Day, from two of the most prominent ski areas in New England, Stowe, Vermont and and Waterville Valley. Running a ski area is very fickle business and not for the inexperienced. Gunstock has had some of the best financial success in my lifetime and I’m no spring chicken. We are so lucky to have them. So when my (our) management team is making me (us) money and effectively doing it for free ($25 per month) believe me, I want to do everything in my power to keep them happy.

I believe it is the intent of the Belknap County Delegation to look out for my best interests. That is why we vote for them. As my representatives, by extension, I want to see them doing everything in their power to help the Gunstock Area Commission succeed. I can’t imagine they see themselves as obstructionists but that’s how it looks. They should be doing everything in their power to help this team succeed. If there is a government red tape problem, I want them to remove it, take care of it, solve it. But instead, the delegation, rather than protecting my interests, seem to have become the dreaded, meddling politicians. I don’t understand the conflict. Is it a personal vendetta? Is it jealousy? Is it simply power? As far as I’m concerned they should be able to hire and keep someone they despise if that someone is the most qualified person to do the job. Doing anything less is a dereliction of duty, not meeting their oath of office and certainly not representing us as owners, county residents and most importantly, voters.

Heidi Preuss

Laconia