Jenkins puts rumours to rest; Town of Minnedosa owns campground

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Published on Friday, October 26, 2012

By: Lanny Stewart

myWestman.ca

The Minnedosa Campground is owned and operated by the Town of Minnedosa, says chief administrative officer Ken Jenkins.

Rumours have been circulating regarding the status of the campground lately and Jenkins put all the scuttlebutt to rest regarding its status in an email interview with myWestman.ca on Friday afternoon.

He says that Town Council did in fact place the campground for sale by asking for offers to purchase and that the deadline for offers to be received was on Friday, Aug. 24. Council received four offers and had until Oct. 12 to make a decision on whether to accept.

He says Council ultimately decided to refuse all offers and retain ownership and operating control of the property.

"This unanimous decision was made by way of resolution at the Oct. 9 regular meeting of Council," stated Jenkins.

If the campground was sold, the proceeds would have been used by Council to cover ongoing infrastructure costs for the development of a new residential subdivision.

Jenkins, on behalf of Minnedosa Town Council, also wanted to put to rest some of the other rumours regarding the campground.

In regards to Council reimbursing one or any of the parties that submitted offers for any expenses that they may have incurred either in the preparation of the offer or in the event that equipment was purchased -- or that other expenses were incurred by the submitter with the false belief that they had purchased the campground is "absolutely false".

"The invitations for offers did not and would not even address this situation," he states. "Council has not and will not consider reimbursement for such items as trailers or concession equipment or any expenses incurred by any of the submitters for whatever reason.

In regards to the properties adjacent to the campground such as the soccer fields, beach and lake -- they were not part of the proposed sale.

"These properties would have remained as Town property, but as such, this is a moot point as the campground itself was not sold," stated Jenkins.

Jenkins says the campground has been owned by the Town since its inception and now that the proposed sale has been rejected by Council, it will remain under operational control of the Town as a campground.

"Council has not in the past, nor will it now consider this property for residential development," he concluded.