COPPER HARBOR – About two years ago, the Keweenaw County Board decided to make the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge self-funding for economic reasons, according to Debra Britz-Maier.

“It was bleeding the county dry at the time,” said Britz-Maier, who is the KML manager.

Britz-Maier, who was hired as KML manager on April 16, said she is concerned the lodge isn’t doing as well financially as she would like.

“The fact we’re not making the money we did last year is a huge concern for me,” she said.

When she was hired and saw the budget for this year, Britz-Maier said that also concerned her.

“I told (the County Board) it was not a realistic budget,” she said.

The board is also the governing board for the lodge.

The budget was not realistic, Britz-Maier said, because there is much work needed at the lodge.

Britz-Maier said she grew up in Houghton. For about 30 years, she’s worked in the hospitality industry, including rehabilitating resorts, motels and hotels that have deteriorated.

“I found my niche was distressed properties,” she said. “I love the challenge of them.”

The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge was constructed during the Great Depression in the 1930s, and Britz-Maier said the facility looks good from the outside.

“Behind the scenes, there is so much to be done,” she said.

Much of the lumber in the 26 guest cabins is crumbling, and one cabin had a 3-foot-diameter hole.

“Just about every roof on every cabin needs to be replaced,” she said.

Much of the infrastructure of the resort is in need of repair or replacement, Britz-Maier said.

“We need new electrical throughout this entire operation,” she said.

Britz-Maier said she hasn’t been able to find any records of preventative maintenance being done at the lodge.