In a much-anticipated decision, the Park County Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday to contribute county funds toward renovating the Sleeping Giant Ski Area.On a 5-0 vote, the commission agreed to give $50,000 from a forest reserve account.

The account — which currently holds about $218,000 — can only be spent on projects inside the Shoshone National Forest, where the North Fork ski area is located.

A nonprofit group,Yellowstone Recreations Foundation, is seeking to get the ski area up and running again. The group needs to raise $800,000 by May 1 in order to qualify for a $500,000 grant from the Wyoming Business Council.

As of Wednesday morning, the Foundation had $139,000 to go, said Bryant Hall, the Foundation's executive director.

That figure does not include the county's planned $50,000 contribution — and that's partially because it is unclear if the money will be available before the deadline.

Federal stipulations on the forest reserve account state that, before the county uses the funds, it must advertise its intent to do so and accept public comment for 45 days.

With only 43 days from today (March 19) until the May 1 deadline, that may make the money too late.

Hall said if the $50,000 is not awarded in time, the foundation would try to work with the Wyoming Business Council for an extension. But, he said, he hopes that the fundraising campaign doesn't hinge on the county's money.

“We're pretty optimistic that we would be able to raise the amount, regardless,” Hall said.

The unanimous decision betrayed some of the uncertainty that had preceded it.

Commissioners received hundreds of phone calls and e-mails from the public regarding the funding, with roughly 60 percent in favor and 40 percent opposed.

In voting to offer the $50,000, commissioners Bucky Hall (Bryant's father), Jill Shockley Siggins, Bill Brewer and Tim French cited the economic benefits the county will receive from a reinvigorated ski area. Sleeping Giant has been closed since 2004.

Commissioner Dave Burke had opposed using county dollars on the project, calling it a worthwhile, but more of a special-interest endeavor. However, with the funding coming from federal money, Burke supported the contribution.

Essentially, the reserve funds were given to the county as payment in lieu of taxes; that's money the U.S. government offers to counties instead of paying property taxes on federal land.

The reserve money must be spent on projects that benefit the Shoshone Forest, such as forest health, infrastructure improvement and job creation.

Bryant Hall said the Yellowstone Recreations Foundation would use the $50,000 for timber clearing and the installation of a snowmaking system — which could be used in fire prevention.

In total, the Sleeping Giant renovation is billed at an estimated $3.5 million. Among other improvements, the area will feature a new chair lift and three times the skiable terrain.