News

Rebekah Hall was packed on Tuesday as the Telluride Town Council prepared for an update with Telluride Ski and Golf (Telski) owner Chuck Horning. However, despite the anticipation, Horning was not in attendance.

“Mr. Horning is not with us today,” said Telluride Mayor Teddy Errico. “He chose to decline the invitation. We thought he was coming, but he advised us he will not be in the room and he will not be online.”

In a statement to KOTO News, Horning said he informed Town Council he would not be attending the meeting, stating he works “12 hours a day, seven days a week, so I don’t go to football games or town council meetings, even though both can be enjoyable.” He added that he has “great people running the resort,” explaining that his management style is to “step out of the way, let them do what they do best, and stay out of politics.”

Since Horning wasn’t present, Town Council discussed a list of questions it plans to present to the ski company in hopes of getting answers. The questions focus on commitment to collaboration and shared vision, strategic leadership and organizational direction, investment in community and regional sustainability, and infrastructure reliability and risk management.

During the conversation, Councilmember Dan Enright clarified that his goal was not to attack or publicly shame Horning.

“I want, and I think we all want, to work collaboratively and in a positive manner with the ski company,” Enright said. “But that needs to be a conversation, and we need to have trust between our partnerships. I don’t feel like that trust is there. I don’t feel I can trust Mr. Horning’s word, and his failure to show up today is a prime example of that.”

Mayor Errico emphasized that the discussion was not a criticism of the staff who work diligently on the mountain.

“When you think how they’re operating the ski resort and doing the best they can — from ski patrol to ski school, Bon Vivant, groomers, lift ops — I want to make sure it’s very clear these questions, these challenges, that we will pose to Telluride Ski and Golf are not a criticism of the people who are making sure we are functioning on a daily basis, and often do it with a smile,” Errico said.

For Councilmember Elena Levin, the conversation centered on accountability.

“They really don’t see any consequences for their lack of follow-through; we do,” Levin said. “So, I think it’s an accountability problem.”

One of the central challenges for Town Council is a lack of understanding of the leadership and decision-making structure at the ski company.

“The lack of leadership, or the lack of a leadership structure, is starting to rear its head and affect us in meaningful ways,” said Councilmember Ashley Von Spreecken. “It’s something I would hope Mr. Horning would take seriously and find that there is power in having strong leadership and this type of structure that pretty much every other corporation utilizes.”

Councilmember Enright echoed the call for leadership.

“We need strong leadership,” Enright said. “So, Mr. Horning, if there’s one request I have of you today, hire a CEO.”

While Council members asked for better communication and accountability from the resort, Councilmember Geneva Shaunette called for action rather than more meetings.

“Actions speak louder than words,” Shaunette said. “We’ve had quite a bit of discussion, and a lot of people have been discussing these issues or concerns in the community. We’re finally bringing this up at a public meeting — at the Town of Mountain Village, at the Town of Telluride Council meetings. We want action. And I think the community wants action on all these issues, not just more meetings to talk about what the plan is.”

During public comment, nearly a dozen elected officials and community members shared their feedback. Only one commenter, Luke Weidner, spoke in support of Telski.

“It seems bizarre to me that this body feels it is not only their duty but their right to micromanage the operations of a privately held business within its community,” Weidner said. “Just because Telski is arguably the most important business in this community, it does not give this body any additional rights to oversee its operations or to force the owner’s hand should it not be run in the way this body would like it to be run.”

Mountain Village Town Manager Paul Wisor expressed his appreciation for the Council holding the meeting, arguing that showing up was the most important thing Horning could have done.

“The leadership you’re showing today is not only important for creating room for this discussion, but you’re speaking for any number of people who are afraid to speak out,” Wisor said. “They are afraid of retribution from the ski company if they voice the very concerns that you are setting forth today. So, thank you for being their voice.”

Katherine Devlin, vice president of the Telluride Ski Patrol Local Union Unit 7781, echoed calls for Telski to fill management positions.

“It is our goal to work amicably with the ski area and to reach a solution that is mutually beneficial,” Devlin said. “We believe it would be in the best interest of patrol, the community, and the ski area to fill upper management positions at Telluride Ski and Golf, including Mountain Manager and CEO. At this time, our department sufficiently meets safety standards through institutional knowledge. We are extremely privileged to have this institutional knowledge despite lack of upper management input. This year alone, we’ve handled 799 injured guests safely and professionally.”

Several community members, including Michael Grady, urged the Council to take action to challenge the ski company.

“Right now, Telluride Ski and Golf has near-total control of our tourism engine,” Grady said. “Their pricing and marketing decisions directly affect who comes here, when they come, and how long they stay. That’s not a partnership, so much as a power imbalance. My opinion is it’s harming our regional tourism, local business, and public trust.”

Mountain Village Mayor Marti Prohaska noted the personal impact of the issue.

“This is an issue that impacts me deeply as someone who has grown up here and whose family worked for decades to create the world-class destination that we currently enjoy,” Prohaska said. “It’s heart-wrenching to hear the concerns our community has about that continuing into the future. I hope that we can move forward in collaboration to find solutions for these problems because our community truly deserves better.”

Telluride Town Council plans to present Horning and Telski with their questions and hopes for a response.