Mountain View County council has authorized CAO Tony Martens to negotiate a two-year contract with new operators for Westward Ho Campground.Chris Demers and Craig Masley, who currently manage the Westerner Campground at Westerner Park in Red Deer, were selected after council reviewed three proposals in a private session following Wednesday's regular council meeting.Demers and Masley have operated the Westerner Campground since its inception, said John Harms, chief executive officer and general manager of Westerner Park.ìThey've been partners with us since its opened in 2003 and they do a great job,î Harms told the Gazette Friday.Their successful proposal beat out one from a group composed of Westward Ho Campground users, confirmed Jeff Holmes, director of legislative, community and agricultural services.ìThere were three proposals received and this was the one that council felt was in the best interests of the county,î Holmes said Thursday.The contract will come back to council for review before it receives final approval.The request for proposals specified that the campground will be maintained as a year-round facility once the new operators are in place.Council directed administration last year to investigate the potential for selling the campground property after the two-year contract expires.
