Regarding the $6 million Tahoe Donner XC lodge proposal: I’m a Tahoe Donner property owner, alpine/nordic ski-pass holder and have previously and reflexively voted for every construction assessment that came along.

But I have to wonder: Has Vladimir Putin taken over Tahoe Donner and is he now organizing projects Sochi-style to benefit construction industry cronies? Where’s the common sense about priorities?

The alpine area has just now barely opened due to lack of snowmaking capability which would cost a fraction of the proposed lodge’s $6 million price tag.

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There’s also been a proposal kicking around for a backside ski lift that would just about double the beginner/low-intermediate terrain and eliminate the need for pole-less boarders and beginner skiers who venture onto the current backside runs to thrash along the lengthy flat stretches of “Mile Run.” That lift would be a lot less than $6 million, and both of those projects would actually attract new business.

What’s the ROI on this project? How many new nordic skiers will it attract?

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The only justification seems to be that it would be nicer than the current structure and “it’s in the strategic plan.” It seems if Tahoe Donner is going to spend $6 million on skiing capital improvements it should be spent on improving the actual skiing itself, not the hanging-around-the-lodge experience.

John Reece

Truckee