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SPECULATOR - Though he admitted taking over operations at Oak Mountain Ski Center is a leap of faith, Mayor Neil McGovern said he believes village residents and neighbors will benefit from the center's operation.

"We're here tonight to share what we think we can do with your help," McGovern said to about 60 people who came to an informational meeting at the Lake Pleasant Central School Thursday to hear about the village's operation of the center. "This place augments the quality of life [for nearby residents]."

The village took over operation of the center last year when no company or person stepped up to take over the bankrupt business. While the center didn't generate enough revenue to cover its expenses, McGovern said that isn't cause for concern.

Several residents pointed out that even with the $35,000 the village put toward the center's operation, it still generated $80,000 less than what was put into it. McGovern said the $35,000 is much like what the village contributes for the running of the beach, the pavilion and the ice skating rink.

"It's a quality-of-life issue," he said. "Beach costs are almost [$35,000] for the summer. It's done for the betterment of the village."

The remaining debt comes from many one-time-only expenses associated with getting the business, which had been shut down for 1 1/2 years, back up and running.

The village also was required to put $10,000 toward advertising, a condition for receiving a $50,000 county grant.

Those start-up costs won't be felt again this season, McGovern said.

McGovern said since the village is starting the preparation process early this year, it has had time to approach local school districts and develop contracts with them. The contracts would stipulate the district send its students to Oak Mountain at a discounted rate. Last year, such contracts weren't made. Having them this year will make a big difference in revenues, McGovern said.

The village also is approaching the nearby communities of Wells, Lake Pleasant and Arietta for help funding the center, McGovern said.

Lake Pleasant Town Clerk Charlotte Smith read a letter from Supervisor Frank Mezzano, who couldn't attend the meeting.

"'Oak Mountain is truly a part of our community's fabric,'" she read. "'When [the town] discusses the budget, we will give serious consideration to Oak Mountain.'"

Village Trustee Collie Smith said he too was concerned about the cost, but is confident the center will thrive this season.

"I'm convinced we can do better this year and come out of this better than we did," he said.

Other meeting attendees said the village should consider buying the mountain, but McGovern said that is currently not a possibility. He said he wasn't ruling it out as a future possibility, though.

Several suggestions were made for making the center operable during the summer, including installing ropes courses or zip lines for children. McGovern said the village is open to all suggestions and encouraged those present to fill out suggestion cards provided by the village.

What the village is asking for now, he said, is as much help as the community can give. He said more than 60 volunteers made running Oak Mountain possible last year, and if more volunteers come forward this season, the center should be successful.

Last season, thousands of children skied there for free or at a discounted rate, McGovern said, and the center provided jobs for a number of residents. The mountain means a lot to many local people, who often have a history there spanning three or four generations, he said.

"This is a huge leap of faith," he said. "We're asking you to take that leap with us."

Kayleigh Karutis covers rural Fulton County. She can be reached at ruralnews@leaderherald.com.