WildPlay is demanding more than $400,000 from the Great Northern Ski Society (GNSS).

The company offers outdoor adventure parks. It had a deal with the GNSS for the Mount Sima area, which the society operates, prior to its closure on July 2.

The GNSS, which has operated the hill since its inception, closed Sima due to significant financial problems.

The GNSS is dissolving, and is focused on paying off its debts. A new group – the Friends of Mount Sima – has taken up the cause to reopen the hill at least for the winter season.

At Monday evening's city council meeting, Mayor Dan Curtis referenced the "demand letter” numerous times as delegate after delegate approached council.

Each person encouraged the city to fund the hill to the tune of $200,000 so it can open this winter and continue operations.

Curtis questioned a number of delegates about whether they were aware of the letter, repeatedly stating the amounts WildPlay is seeking.

It wants $157,000, along with another $30,000 in business licence fees for each of the remaining nine years of the 10-year lease.

It was pointed out that issue is with the GNSS, which will fold once its debts are paid off. Curtis, however, voiced his concern of the possibility WildPlay could go after assets at the hill.

Rob Fendrick, the city's director of corporate services, has also served as one of the city's representatives on the GNSS board. He noted the GNSS is negotiating with WildPlay and has 30 days to respond to the letter.

He went on to point out that a total of $85,000 will be available through the sale of a groomer at the hill, which the territorial government has agreed to purchase for the city for $55,000, and another piece of equipment that's being bought by the Hougen Group for $30,000. (Council will vote next week on the budget amendment for the groomer purchase.)

There's also the possibility of WildPlay taking the moveable equipment for the adventure park, which would also have an impact on the amount the company would be looking for from the GNSS.

Fendrick acknowleged that while it's unknown what will come from the negotiations with WildPlay, there is the eventual possibility of it petitioning for assets at the hill.

He pointed out however that those assets would have to be owned by the ski society, as that is who their agreement is with.

The city owns the chairlift (after voting earlier this summer to pay off the nearly $200,000 debt on the chair and taking over title to secure it).

The city's still the owner of the chalet at the hill under a federal Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund deal that was signed when the chalet was built for the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

Rod Taylor, who's part of the Friends of Mount Sima group, told council as well that while his organization is focused on reopening Sima, he has heard that WildPlay is willing to talk and negotiate with the GNSS.

Along with the city paying off the chairlift, and the territory's purchase of the groomer, the Yukon government has provided funding to the tune of $198,000 to pay off local creditors.

That money is being funneled through the city.

Fendrick told council Monday evening that the city has received the updated list of creditors and will be verifying the amounts owing in the coming days.

It's expected cheques will then be issued either Thursday or next week.