The latest moves come after city and county officials traveled two weeks ago to Washington, D.C., to meet again with Pentagon officials and state congressional delegation members on the matter.

"Unfortunately, we had sort of lost communication with them," City Council member Candy Erickson said. The trip, however, "helped reopen those lines."

"Hill has clearly made working with us a priority," Bakaly said. "We're encouraged."

Hill officials have said they hope to build a world-class resort at Hill that would attract military members worldwide. They have said they hope it would be on par with a few big ones the military now operates with discounts for personnel at Walt Disney World and in Hawaii, the German Alps and Korea.

Ironically, the big goal grew from an initially modest effort to replace a small lodge — which some described as a glorified cabin — that Hill once owned at Snow Basin. It was removed for construction for the 2002 Olympics. Congress then gave the controversial Park City land to the Air Force for a replacement, but plans and controversy grew.

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