For the 58th time the ski season is over at one northern Michigan ski hill. But a lot of viewers contacted us and wondered if there would even be a 59th season at Hickory Hills.

The rumors have swirled about the city owned ski hills future since the COFAC report made cost cutting recommendations to the city commission.

But what is just rumor? What is reality?

As I found out in this fact finder, it may not be cut and dry, and the ski slope made what most consider nice progress this year when it comes to its bottom line.

Lauren Vaughn, with the Traverse City Parks and Rec. department describes Hickory Hills as a "kind of a hidden gem, that more people are discovering but there are still quite a few people who haven't been there, don't know about it, but it's a great little area, for people just starting out for families."

The hidden gem for the past 58 winters has been the Traverse City owned ski area, Hickory hills.

For decades supporters say it's provided a healthy outlet during a time of year when not a lot of activities are offered for area kids, at decent price. Lauren says "it's a place where you can take your family and all of you can ski for what it would cost for 1 or 1.5 of you at a larger resort."

The ironic part is cost maybe its biggest draw for skiers and its biggest hurdle with the city.

The ski season at hickory just closed and by most accounts it's was a good one. Lauren says "as far as skier numbers, we were, we had our 5th highest season that we have had. Our revenue was the highest we have ever had. About $17,000 more than last year which is great."

But even those numbers don't cover their costs. Lauren confirmed that, "no its one of the many things the city provides various services that are subsidized by tax dollars and hickory is one of those. The difference between expenditures and revenue last year was about $130,000 and this year somewhere between 90-100 thousand but I don't know for sure just yet."

It's an improvement of around 30 thousand dollars. Still the hill costs the city to much, that's according to COFAC, a citizen advisory panel focused on cutting costs. In their initial report they recommended the city commission give Hickory a goal and a deadline.

Lauren said "when you first read the recommendations it sounds like you 2 years if it doesn't break even then it should be closed, sold, given to someone else to operate."

That recommendation is not sitting well with skiers and appears to have some resistance on the city commission as well. At a recent commission meeting, it was suggested that Hickory be given a stay of execution, more time to see if this year's success could be duplicated.

Lauren reads the situation as "they explained their position was not that they wanted Hickory to close but to bring attention to what they considered a large amount of city subsidized of the operation, they would like to see that lowered to a more reasonable figure. They didn't really come up with a definite number but if it could be down to 50,000 or so subsidy would be more acceptable to them."

So at what level, if any do you think Traverse City should support Hickory Hills? Maybe there is a project in your town that city helps financially? Does your city have an obligation to provide such attractions? Do the benefits outweigh the costs?

I want to hear from you.