Plans to lease the Westward Ho campground to Red Deer operators have fallen through.After a one-hour closed session last Wednesday, Mountain View County council voted to authorize CAO Tony Martens to instead enter into negotiations with the Westward Ho Campers Association for a two-year lease of the facility.Last month, council selected a proposal by Chris Demers and Craig Masley, who currently manage the Westerner Campground at Westerner Park in Red Deer, and authorized Martens to negotiate a contract.No deal was reached, however, because the Westerner operators did not want to enter into a two-year lease, but were looking for a longer-term arrangement, Reeve Bruce Beattie told the Gazette Wednesday after the public portion of the meeting resumed.The Westward Ho Campers Association's was one of three proposals received by the county. Council directed administration last year to investigate the potential for selling the campground property after the two-year contract expires.Wescott interchange plans proceedingAlberta Transportation is moving ahead with plans to build an interchange on Highway 2 at Wescott/Bergthal Road, Donald Saunders, bridge manager for the central region, told Mountain View County council last week.“The design is basically complete … and I believe all the right of ways have been purchased,” Saunders told council Wednesday.The plan, to construct “a full-service interchange” to make the intersection safer, includes ramps, a bridge and realigned service roads, Saunders said.There will be no guardrail down the centre of the bridge to impede the movement of large farm equipment, he told council when questioned about the width of the span.The construction schedule will depend on available provincial funding.“I really can't comment until the budget is approved,” Saunders said.Skatepark contribution approvedMountain View County council has ratified a recommendation from its policies and priorities committee to donate $10,000 to the Sundre skatepark project, conditional on rules being put in place to make helmet use mandatory for persons under 18.Presenting the motion to council, Jeff Holmes, director of legislative, community and agricultural services, pointed out that the skatepark proponent supported the helmet rule.“And I have discussed it with employees of the Town of Sundre and they don't have any issues with it either,” Holmes said.Div. 7 Coun. Al Kemmere, who had recommended the donation be conditional on the helmet rule, said he has received varied feedback, with some people praising the initiative and others questioning how enforceable it would be.“I'm glad the town employees have not had an issue with it,” Kemmere said.He said the county's contribution was a way of supporting non-traditional forms of recreation for youth in the area.Council voted unanimously in favour of the motion.
