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Show Cedar City Council Faced With Hotel Maintenance-Development Problem . On January 24, 1958, citizens of Cedar City, for the second time, were called to the polls by the Cedar City Council to approve a bond issue of $110,000 for purchase of Hotel El Escalante, which, prior to that time, was owned own-ed by the Union Pacific Railroad and operated by Utah Parks Company, a U. P. Subsidiary. Although only 500 voters turned out to the polls on the second bond issue which was necessitated through a legal technicality in the first bond election held in November of 1957, the margin of approval for bonding was nearly 3 to 1 in favor. Immediately steps were taken by the Council at that time to purchase the hotel on the option they were currently holding and upon the completion of the transaction, tran-saction, Burdell Ruesch, formerly former-ly of the Utah Parks Company, took over the management of the facility from the city until permanent per-manent arrangements could be made. Leas Conditions At the city council meeting on April 3, 1958, after studying several sev-eral proposals, all from local Individuals In-dividuals and concerns, the city Council authorized an agreement with Mr. Ruesch to lease the facility fa-cility with the stipulation that he would pay the city 3W of gross Income. On May Mr. Ruesch assumed obligation of management upon an agreement with the city and Mr. Ruesch has continued to operate op-erate the hotel throughout the re-malnder re-malnder of 1958. This week an announcement was made by Mayor Arnold Anderson An-derson that Mr. Ruesch has asked ask-ed to be released from his agree-ment agree-ment effective Monday, Mar. 2. At that time a verbal commitment commit-ment by the members of the council authorized the Mayor to solicit the aid of Mr. Ruesch to continue the operation for the remainder of March in behalf of the city until further plans can be worked out. City Council will meet In regular reg-ular session this evening, Thursday, Thurs-day, and the matter of the hotel and its disposition will be the number one Item on the agen da. Mayor Anderson Indicated. He also stated that in all likelihood likeli-hood a call for prospective leasers leas-ers for the operation would be issued by the council for the future fu-ture operation of the hotel. Renovation Estimate At the last meeting of the Cedar Ce-dar City Council Mr. Ruesch submitted sub-mitted a list of improvements which he deemed necessary to that" would make it possible to operate the unit on a competitive competi-tive basis. This list Included carpets car-pets In the hallways on the first and second floor to reduce noise, drapes In the rooms, a sign outside out-side the building, tile in the kitchen, an open air type air conditioning unit and plumbing repairs. The council agreed only to the plumbing repairs, the amount of which Is estimated at $1500. |
