Noticias

Mountain Village Mayor Marti Prohaska resigned from her position Wednesday night, effective immediately.

In a letter of resignation, Prohaska said her decision to leave her role as mayor came after learning Mountain Village Town Council had requested a private investigation into her conversations with Telluride Ski and Golf Resort owner Chuck Horning regarding the labor dispute between the ski company and the Telluride Ski Patrol Union, as well as the possible sale of the ski resort.

During the labor dispute, Prohaska, along with Telluride Town Council member Meehan Fee, traveled to California to hold conversations with Horning. Prohaska and Fee say they went as private citizens. Following that visit, the ski company filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain correspondence in connection to “a purchase offer of the ski company.”

The request included a contract which indicates an agreement for Horning to sell 51% of the Telluride Ski Resort to the Telluride Ski Resort Fund — an entity controlled by Prohaska and Fee. The contract was signed by Prohaska and Fee. It was not signed by Horning.

In her resignation letter, Prohaska states she has no regret for her actions that led to her resignation, but adds now is the time for the community to heal and rebuild. She says it would not be fair to Mountain Village staff or taxpayers to “shoulder the burden” of an investigation into her conversations with Horning.

Addressing the reason for her trip and discussions with Horning, Prohaska says “the ski patrol strike exposed the vulnerabilities of a destination dependent upon a company that lacks leadership.” She goes on to say “until this moment, many in this community have either been too complacent, or too afraid, to discuss this fact. The events of the last weeks have brought this reality into clear and painful focus — but the cracks have been showing for some time.”

Prohaska says she stands in the truth that her actions came from a place of deep love and commitment to the community. She concludes that it’s been “an honor and a privilege” to serve the community of Mountain Village, saying she takes pride in what the council has accomplished.

KOTO News reached out to both Prohaska and Fee for further comment, but did not receive a response by broadcast deadline. The Telluride Ski Resort declined to comment further regarding Prohaska’s resignation.

Mountain Village Town Council held a regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, with Mayor Pro Tem Scott Pearson presiding. He provided a statement on behalf of council in light of Prohaska’s departure.

“It is with heavy hearts that we acknowledge and respect Mayor Martinique Prohaska’s decision to resign from her role as mayor, effective immediately,” Pearson said. “Marti has served Mountain Village with commitment and a genuine love for this community. Her devotion to the town has always been driven by her belief in Mountain Village and the people who live and work here.”

Pearson says Town Council believes Prohaska’s decision to travel to California and speak with Horning was motivated by a desire to support the health and future of the region.

“Marti’s desire to step aside reflects her stated wish to allow the community to focus on healing and rebuilding. We respect her choice to place the community ahead of herself,” Pearson said. “We thank Marti for her years of service, her dedication to this town, and the leadership she has shown on this council.”

Mountain Village’s mayor is not elected by voters, but appointed by the remainder of Town Council. The current council will appoint a new mayor and mayor pro tem within the next 30 days, and appoint its seventh town council member within the next 45 days.

On Thursday, the town of Telluride announced it will discuss next week the possibility of a third-party investigation to review Fee’s dealings in the matter.