Photo by Joel Wexler / Rocky Mountain.Photography
The White River National Forest on Wednesday, June 9, approved the construction of additional winter and summer trails at the Frisco Nordic Center in Summit County.
Under this second phase of improvements at the Nordic center, the Forest Service approved 1.3 miles of new winter trails and 4.6 miles of new summer trails on national forest land. Additionally, 2.1 miles of existing summer trails will be upgraded.
Preapproved work on the first phase of new trails is now largely completed and followed a 2019 approval from the Forest Service.
The Frisco Nordic Center operates winter and summer trail systems across national forest and town of Frisco land at the Peninsula Recreation Area.
Summer camps in Summit County are back and ready to run with some semblance of normalcy after the pandemic altered much of last year’s local programming. Keystone Science School is once again hosting overnight camp.
Photo by Ashley Low
Rep. Joe Neguse is hoping to increase funding for public forest lands by allowing the U.S. Forest Service to keep money generated from ski area permit fees.
Neguse said he plans to introduce the Ski Fee Retention Bill in the next few weeks, a bipartisan effort alongside Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah; and Rep. Ann Kuster, D-N.H. and the chair of the Congressional Ski and Snowboard Caucus. The group is looking for another Republican cosponsor, as well.
The Ski Fee Retention Bill would allow national forests including the White River National Forest to retain fees generated from ski areas, which are usually remitted to the U.S. Treasury. The funding is meant to improve the recreation permitting processes, improve visitor services, and support wildfire planning and coordination.
Rep Neguse discusses national forest needs with Summit officials vaildaily.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from vaildaily.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Photo by Sawyer D Argonne / sdargonne@summitdaily.com
Frisco officials last week approved a budget amendment that includes about $2.9 million in additional spending, attributing the change primarily to a stronger-than-anticipated finish to 2020 financially.
The Frisco Town Council approved an ordinance to amend the 2021 budget during a regular meeting April 27, and officials plan to funnel the extra funds toward hiring for unfilled positions, capital improvement projects and more. Finance Director Bonnie Moinet presented the recommended expenditures during the meeting, noting that she felt the town would still be left in a strong financial position at the end of the year despite the expanding bottom line.