Board members, however, made it clear Monday that they are loathe to put much money into the Silver Lake Resort.
"I don't want my ratepayers subsidizing those things up there for one darn dollar, or one darn dime," declared director Harry Norris.
The district acquired the former Kay's Silver Lake Resort - including a store, rental cabins, two residential units and a boat launch - when it purchased the so-called Project 184 from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. in 1999. Silver Lake is part of the project's system of lakes, canals and a powerhouse.A concessionaire had operated the facilities since the 1970s. They were closed last fall after the operator's lease ended, and the district discovered numerous environmental and structural hazards.
Only the boat launch operated this summer, under district supervision. The federal license for the project requires the district to maintain the boat ramp for public use.
Board members toured the resort in September and decided "it's got more problems than it's worth," director George Osborne said. "It's on its last legs."
Cheri Jaggers, Project 184 team administrator, presented directors with several alternatives for the property during Monday's meeting.
She noted that district-owned property straddles Highway 88 and the El Dorado-Amador county line. The boat launch, store and generators are on the south side of the highway, in Amador County, while the rental cabins, a duplex and water well are on the north side.
One option, she said, would be to remove all buildings on the south side, along the lakeshore, and replace them with a parking lot. Currently, Jaggers said, room exists for only four vehicles with boat trailers in the county road right of way, and overflow vehicles have been parking on Silver Lake Dam.
Director Osborne said there is considerable public interest in maintaining a store at the site. He suggested demolishing existing buildings and seeking a concessionaire interested in operating a mobile store, providing basic food items and fishing bait during the summer. That way, if the district decided to relocate the boat ramp, the concessionaire could move to the new site, he said.
David Likins, chief executive officer of nearby Kirkwood Mountain Resort, said he wrote the proposal that Kirkwood submitted last year to operate the Silver Lake Resort under a concessionaire agreement.
District directors decided not to authorize the agreement after discovering the condition of the property.
Likins agreed with the board's assessment that few if any of the existing buildings are salvageable, but he said Kirkwood is in the resort business and remains interested in working with the district as a concessionaire.
"Please don't make a snap decision," he urged the board.
Jennifer Fife said building a parking lot on the Amador County site was a good idea. Fife said she and other people in the area also were interested in overseeing and renting out the cabins on the El Dorado County side.
Director Osborne asked that staff members work with the board's recreation and property management subcommittee to analyze alternatives.
By Cathy Locke - clocke@sacbee.com
Published 1:21 pm PDT Tuesday, October 23, 2007
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