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Sarasota News Leader December 13, 2013 Page 66 COUNTY COMMISSION DELIBERATIONS During the County Commission meeting, Robinson asked County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh for clarification on whether North Port could pursue the proposed intermediate option for getting the Springs reopened as soon as possible: "Are we required to still go through a competitive bid for a management contract with the Springs … property?" If the County Commission assumed the firm would handle revenue and expenses and hire employees to operate the resort, DeMarsh responded, "then it's my opinion that that would have to go through a competitive solicitation process of some kind in order to comply with the [state] statute [that applies to county procurement processes]." Robinson then proposed a short-term operation — secured through bids — should end by Sept. 1. "I think that's a reasonable time. It Jim Blucher recently was elected mayor of allows everybody … to get moving on this … North Port. Image courtesy City of North Port and it puts us back on track where we were The City Commission, Blucher continued, had before" with getting the Springs reopened. talked about the possibility of a management Blucher told the commissioners that he firm working on a month-to-month basis until "was so happy to see that most of the [City the long-term operator was chosen. Commission's] discussion was about the long"The short-term is a hiccup," he added. term [agreement] because [that] is what's going to keep [the Springs] open forever." "It's not that we have the ability to hand it over to you," Robinson told him. "We would Referencing part of the city letter to the county be breaking the law," she said, and potentially board, he added that the North Port commisend up facing lawsuits, "which would drag sioners felt that once the long-term operator on" and prevent the reopening of the resort for the resort was chosen, that firm could "for years." take over from the management company the city hoped to hire. The company could han- "I understand that," Blucher replied. "I believe dle modified operations at the Springs until our commission understands that. … Then it was ready to implement its complete plan, we will have to go through the process as you he noted. just stated it …" %