A nonprofit corporation started by Baker County will take full ownership of Ski Anthony Lakes resort on Friday.

The three couples who have owned the ski area since 1998 gifted the business to the county on Aug. 1.

The previous owners – Lee and Connie Kearney of Vancouver, Wash.,

Kim and Dana Kutsch of Jefferson, and Parke and Gail Ball, also of

Vancouver – made the offer earlier this year.

Baker County’s three commissioners decided to accept that offer

after soliciting comments from the public during a series of meetings

this summer.

The transition is going well, said Jason Yencopal, the county employee who is overseeing the process.

Yencopal said the board of directors of the 501(c)3 corporation will

hire new general and operations managers for the resort, which is in

the Elkhorn Mountains about 35 miles northwest of Baker City.

On Tuesday, County Commissioners appointed as board members John

Wilson of North Powder, Rob Burgess of Baker City, Brent Kerns of

Haines and Sandy Sorrels of La Grande.

(Commissioners included Sorrels because the resort is actually just across the border in Union County.)

Fred Warner Jr., chairman of the Baker County Board of Commissioners, said he had originally anticipated having five board members.

He said the commissioners probably will discuss during their meeting Oct. 6 whether to appoint a fifth member.

Warner also said that other than appointing board members, the Commissioners will not have any say in the operation of the ski area.

The county has extended the deadline to buy season passes to Oct. 31. Passes are cheaper than they have been in previous years, too, with an all-mountain pass going for $475 for adults and a Nordic pass for $189.

In addition, daily lift tickets for adults will cost $35 this coming season, down from $39 last season.

Yencopal encourages residents to go to the county’s Web site – www.bakercounty.org – and complete a survey that includes questions about what people would like to see at Anthony Lakes.

” ‘What’s your level of skiing? Your age? what do you think about ticket prices? Does the quality of service fit your standards?’ are just some of things we want to know. We really want to hear what people have to say,” Yencopal said.