Without traditional bridge loan, Gunstock might have to close

To The Daily Sun,

A tight-fisted contingent of Belknap County lawmakers is threatening the future of Gunstock Mountain Resort and local residents need to come to a meeting tomorrow night to voice their support for a beloved 80-year-old ski area that is vital to the economy of the Lakes Region.

Here’s the situation: Gunstock's revenues are down this summer, thanks in part to hot weather and heavy rains that have kept fun seekers away from the mountain. At Wednesday’s meeting, set for 6 p.m. at the Belknap County Complex (34 County Drive, Laconia, Gunstock will seek to convince a panel of Belknap County delegates — these would be the state reps — to help it secure a $600,000 bank loan to help it to squeak through the lean autumn months before snow flies. The ask is not new: Gunstock’s has secured — and also paid back — a bridge loan for the past 18 straight years. The $600,000 in question would not come from Belknap County taxpayers. Rather, it would come from a bank. Gunstock needs the county to cosign on the loan as the county owns the land on which the ski trails sit.

Gunstock will face staunch opposition tomorrow night. In June, Belknap County delegates got tight-fisted and voted to deny the bridge loan.

Tomorrow night, Gunstock is going back to the delegates and basically saying, “If you don’t loan us the money, we might have to close.” In order for Gunstock to secure the bridge loan, two delegates need to flip to a “yes” vote. Below is a list of the delegates who voted against Gunstock last time. Please contact them to say you support Gunstock in its pursuit of a bridge loan.

Barbara Comtois, Barnstead (776-8989,barbara.comtois@leg.state.nh.us),

Valerie Fraser, Alton (744-0107, valerie.fraser@leg.state.nh.us)

Ray Howard, Alton (875-4115, brhowardjr@yahoo.com)

John Plumer (527-3444), Belmont (john.plumer@leg.state.nh.us)

Michael Sylvia, Belmont, possible swing voter about loss of revenue to area businesses (707-8594 mike@mikesylvia.org)

Norman Silber, Gilford (293-0565, email njs@silbernh.com)

Absent from the June vote: Glen Aldrich, Gilford, likely to vote against Gunstock (527-8726, email glen.aldrich@leg.state.nh.us)

Bill Donahue

Gilmanton