JANUARY 23, 2025|
Photo – Golf course building that houses restaurant – Bigfoot99 file photo
At the Rawlins City Council meeting Tuesday night, a local resident defended Win Haymond after his restaurant concessionaire contract with the city was revoked by the governing body.
Earlier this month, the Rawlins city council voted unanimously to terminate the concessionaire agreement with the 19th Hole Restaurant at the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course. Council cited multiple breaches of the contract with the city by Haymond.
The governing body did not provide a reason for terminating the arrangement. At previous meeting one month earlier, however, the governing body voted to revoke the restaurant’s liquor license.
During Tuesday’s Rawlins city council meeting, Mayor Jacquelin Wells opened the floor to a public discussion about the concessionaire agreement. Mayor Wells said 19th Hole Restaurant owner Win Haymond was invited to participate but chose not to attend the council meeting.
City Manager Tom Sarvey confirmed that Haymond was not in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting.
Rawlins Cooperative Parish Music Director James Keldsen rose and addressed the city council on behalf of Haymond. Keldsen said that he is only aware of two instances where Haymond breached his contract with the city. The first was when Haymond failed to remove alcohol after a holiday party at the Jeffery Memorial Community Center. The second breach of contract, Keldsen said, involved Haymond hiring a third party to serve alcohol in his restaurant during a special occasion after his license was withdrawn. Keldsen questioned if those infractions warranted terminating the agreement.
Three days after the restaurant’s liquor license was revoked, Haymond took to social media and admitted that he forgot to remove leftover alcohol from the Jeffery Center following Christmas events for Sinclair Refinery and Memorial Hospital of Carbon County. Haymond accepted responsibility for the contract infraction and promised to do whatever was necessary to have his liquor license reinstated.
During his defense of Haymond at the city council meeting, Rawlins Cooperative Parish Music Director Keldsen explained that the golf course has had many concessionaires since it opened in 2004. Keldsen said in his opinion, Haymond had worked the hardest to develop the business.
Keldsen said he personally likes Haymond and has heard that his employees enjoy working at the restaurant.
The music director asked the council to clarify why they chose to terminate the concessionaire agreement. Newly elected Councilman Derek Elliott was unable to disclose any specific information about the incident. However, Councilman Elliott said the governing body must have had good reason to end the contract.
Mayor Wells explained to Keldsen that the council is legally unable to provide specific details to the public on why the concessionaire agreement was terminated, but they can confirm that Haymond violated his contract with the city.
Councilwoman Tonya Lewman acknowledged the importance of having a restaurant at Rochelle Ranch Golf Course and the foot traffic it attracts.
Councilwoman Lewman assured Keldsen that Haymond repeatedly breached his contract in ways serious enough to compel the council to terminate the agreement.
Keldsen thanked the council for allowing him to speak and said that he hopes Haymond opens another restaurant somewhere in Rawlins.
