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Eagle-Vail metro board candidate: Charlie Penwill
Matt Terrell
Vail CO Colorado
May 3, 2008
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EAGLE-VAIL, Colorado — Seven candidates are vying for two open seats on the Eagle-Vail Metropolitan District board of directors.
The metro district is in charge of operating and maintaining the recreation facilities in Eagle-Vail, such as the Eagle-Vail Golf Club, the swimming pool, Eagle-Vail Pavilion and the tennis courts. Tax money collected from Eagle-Vail residents pay for those facilities.
The candidates are incumbent Bruce Mielke, incumbent Bob Finlay, Louise Funk, Charlie Penwill, Mike Matzko, Steve Kirchner and Bonnie Wood. The two candidates who receive the most votes will be elected.
There are three other seats on the board of directors up for election in 2010.
1. Tell us about yourself and your qualifications.
I have lived in Eagle-Vail for almost 30 years. Married, my two children were raised in Eagle-Vail. Both graduated from Eagle-Vail’s Battle Mountain High School: Nicole is attending college, Alex has just graduated.
In the early l970s I started, then directed, the Vail Recreation Department, putting together the first programs and facilities for Vail visitors and residents. After a three-year college-teaching-hiatus in California, I returned to the Vail Valley and became involved in the planning process of Beaver Creek and then oversaw ski school, mountain restaurants, retail and the Beaver Creek Golf Course operations.
I was also a founding member of the Tenth Mountain Trail and Hut Association and served as its president, a volunteer position, during a period when fundraising and hut building were at its peak.
Between 1993 and 2006 I was vice president of sales and marketing, first at Cordillera, then with Vail Resorts Development Company. During my time at Cordillera, four golf courses were built along with other recreational amenities.
At Vail Resorts I was involved with multiple developments, including the Arrabelle in Lionshead, the Vistabahn redevelopment in Vail Village, Peak 7 in Breckenridge, and Red Sky Ranch, and of particular relevance to Eagle-Vail metro, the redevelopment of Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club. This community, originally built in the 1970s at the base of the Tetons, faced many of the same aging issues as we now face in Eagle-Vail.
2. Why are you running?
I believe Eagle-Vail fills a special niche in the Vail Valley. Because of our location between Vail and Beaver Creek we have a real mix of full-time and part-time property owners and a large number of year-round and seasonal renters.
Eagle-Vail has a bright future, however, many of our facilities are showing their age and need upgrading or replacing. This process is underway, with strong input from the residents and homeowners association.
It is important that, as the process moves forward, decisions are made that work for all the residents of Eagle-Vail. With all the years I have lived here, and 35 years of working experience in the recreational/real estate fields, I believe I can bring sound judgment to the table and contribute to Eagle-Vail’s continuing to be a great place to live.
3. What are the biggest challenges for the metro district in the next few years? How will you approach those issues?
It often comes down to money: how much do we have and how to spend it?
As with all redevelopment programs that involve public input there are wish-lists that can exceed financial capacity. A balance of experience and sound judgment, combined with a sensitivity to input from the residents is needed.
With the recent and well-publicized increases in property taxes it is important that taxpayers feel that their taxes are being judiciously invested in their community. The metro district has this responsibility.
Of an ongoing concern, most golf courses in the Vail Valley are struggling financially due to a shrinking market, competition for golfers and soaring operating costs. However, I’m a great believer in niche marketing, and by thinking “out of the box” I believe the Eagle-Vail metro board can increase market share for our golf course and generate additional revenues without substantially increasing costs.
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