Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/104211
CONFUSION REIGNS The Warm Mineral Springs sign welcomes the public to the North Port 'fountain of youth.' Photo courtesy of ebyabe/Wikipedia THE NORTH PORT COMMISSION ONCE AGAIN DEBATES THE SALE OF WARM MINERAL SPRINGS, AND IT APPEARS ITS STAKE IN THE PROPERTY IS UP FOR SALE By Cooper Levey-Baker Associate Editor The North Port City Commission this week reiterated its desire to rid itself of Warm Mineral Springs, in the process clarifying (maybe) what it meant when it first voted to sell last month. Did she want the city to simply sell its 50-percent share of the jointly owned property? Or did she want the entire property sold back into private hands, a move that would require county ratification? The City Commission voted 3-2 on Dec. 18, 2012, to sell the springs, the 81-acre "Fountain of Youth" the city and county jointly purchased in 2010. Distrustful of the Invitation to Negotiate process the county had suggested to solicit ideas to redevelop the property, the city sent a message: We want out. "I am talking about the entire Warm Mineral Springs property," said Cook, when asked those questions by a city attorney and Mayor Linda Yates. She added: "I am referring to selling the entire property for their approval," with "their" referring to the Sarasota County Commission. But that message was not exactly clear. City Commissioner Cheryl Cook first made the motion in December to the sell the springs, kicking off nearly two hours of debate as well as questions about what exactly she intended. Minutes from the meeting confirm that interpretation, reading: "Following a concern, clarification was provided that the motion was to suggest to sell Warm Mineral Springs in its entirety and due to the 50/50 ownership, Sara-