The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Several local restaurateurs wish their voices carried more weight with Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp.

The desire was voiced alongside other thoughts and suggestions at Wednesday’s meeting of the Steamboat Springs chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association. Members said they would like to be able to sit down with Ski Corp. and discuss topics such as the air service program and the dates of ski season.

The Steamboat Ski Area’s last day was April 6 this year. Other ski areas across the state stayed open longer, and Paul Underwood of Café Diva said his business felt the negative effects.

“I think it’s good to have a conversation in a positive direction,” Underwood said of possible talks with Ski Corp. “There is a community here, too, whose needs are important. … If (Ski Corp.) wants to maybe run three lifts instead of 20, that’s fine, but to close it is injurious to us.”

The topic was one of several bandied about by the recently revived group. About 10 people from a grab bag of eateries attended the meeting at Mazzola’s Italian Restaurant, touching on training issues, the pitfalls of accepting American Express credit cards and possible support for Triple Crown Sports.

The group also named its leadership. After confusion regarding earlier nominations and balloting, three officers emerged. Liz Wahl, Ski Corp.’s food and beverage director, is president; Rex Brice, who runs Mazzola’s, Rex’s American Grill & Bar and Big House Burgers, is vice president; and Diane Burns of Ore House at the Pine Grove is the secretary-treasurer.

Wahl’s position could lead to awkward moments because Ski Corp. is her employer, said Fritz Aurin, who owns Steamboat Smokehouse.

“There may be times when you need to step down and Rex step up” to lead discussions, Aurin said.

Wahl agreed, adding that such an arrangement would relieve her of any possible conflicts of interest.

Aurin raised another issue of concern: Steamboat’s search for a new city manager. Former City Manager Alan Lanning reached a severance agreement with Steamboat Springs City Council earlier this month. City officials are creating a committee, including community members, to work with an executive search firm on the selection process. The restaurant industry should be represented, Aurin said. Jeff Little of Ore House said he would consider participating.

About half of Steamboat’s restaurants belong to the local chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, Ter­ritory Manager Jeff Levin said. Membership costs depend on restaurant sales. Levin put the average dues at $750 a year.

Part of the recruiting challenge, said Dan Emert of Ore House, is that restaurateurs don’t always understand the benefit of joining. The association’s Web site states that it helps restaurants by shaping public policy, providing discounts on services, offering resources and keeping members informed about regulations.

The Steamboat group tentatively planned its next meeting for 11 a.m. Sept. 3 at Bear River Bar & Grill. Wahl said she would ask Ski Corp. officials to explain the air service program then. She promised that she would try to keep meetings to an hour, which she did Wednesday by drawing the participants back on topic when necessary.

“I’ve found that people don’t come to meetings if you don’t keep them tight and organized,” Wahl said.

— To reach Blythe Terrell, call 871-4234 or e-mail bterrell@steamboatpilot.com