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Alta council discusses public, nonprofit bids to acquire Our Lady of the Snows
Summary
Council members, staff and public speakers debated whether the town should pursue purchase of the Our Lady of the Snows community building or support Alta Community Enrichment (ACE) acquiring it. No purchase vote was taken; the council agreed to pursue more public outreach and due diligence.
Alta Town Council members, town staff and members of the public spent significant time at the April 9 meeting discussing a potential transfer of the Our Lady of the Snows (OLS) building to either the town or Alta Community Enrichment (ACE).
The debate featured public comments from ACE supporters who said the nonprofit would be a reliable steward of the building, and town staff briefings that said the town could afford to buy the property but that doing so would substantially reduce capital reserves and constrain other projects for multiple years.
Why it matters: OLS functions as a community center and trailhead facility. Who owns and operates that building will affect local programming, operations and the town’s capital budget.
Several public speakers urged the council to let ACE purchase the building. Cliff Curry read a written statement supporting ACE and noting a charitable offer: "ACE has been a strong part of the community for over 28 years...John Bird has offered to donate the purchase cost to ACE at no cost to the town," Curry said. Sarah Gates of the community contingent said a public meeting on the matter should have been scheduled earlier so more residents could attend.
Town staff described the financial trade-offs. Staff said a purchase at appraised or comparable value would be feasible but would draw down the town’s CapEx reserves, leaving the account “lean” for at least two to three years and limiting the council’s ability to fund other major capital projects. Staff recommended further analysis and careful timing rather than a rapid decision.
Several council members said they want a broader public conversation before committing taxpayer funds. The mayor and staff agreed to schedule a public meeting focused on OLS to give residents more time to comment. No purchase motion or final decision was taken at the April 9 meeting.
What was discussed but not decided: whether the town should accept ownership and operating responsibility for OLS; what the town’s capital fund balance would look like after a purchase; and whether the town should set conditions such as right-of-first-refusal or maintenance agreements if ACE acquires the building.
Next steps: Council members indicated a public meeting will be scheduled to gather additional resident input and that staff will prepare further financial and facilities information to clarify the budgetary implications before any formal action.
