Town Moves Forward With Sale of Powder Ridge

Although no closing date has been set, the Town of Middlefield is moving closer to finally selling Powder Ridge Ski Area to Alpine Ridge LLC. 

Earlier this week a 90-day due diligence period expired without either the town or Alpine voiding the $1 million sales agreement approved by voters .

On Thursday, the Board of Selectmen held a special meeting to review several items within the agreement, including the transfer of a water diversion permit, in an effort to move the two sides closer to a closing date.

Town attorney Ken Antin, who was present at the meeting, said he did not anticipate any problems with transferring the permit, which would allow Alpine to pull water from Lake Beseck for the purpose of making snow.

There was, however, some uncertainty over the plan to get the water to the ski area. Alpine has previously indicated that it plans to pipe water from the lake to the ski area using underground pipes along Powder Hill Road, but board members were not clear as to what additional approval Alpine might need from the state to do so.

"[The planning] is up to Alpine's engineers. It's their diversion of water, not ours," explained First Selectman Jon Brayshaw, who said he planned to reach out to Alpine to get the process moving forward.

Under terms of the sales agreement a closing date must be scheduled by no later than August 1.

Meanwhile, the board took yet another step Thursday in securing a $500,000 grant from the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

The board approved an amendment to the grant - which was approved by the State Bond Commission in December - requiring Alpine to invest $2 million in Powder Ridge, as well as offer downhill skiing by Dec. 31 2013.

Selectman Ed Bailey suggested the town write a letter to Alpine indicating the town's plan to use the grant money as reimbursement so long as Alpine meets the requirements.