Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/104211
Sarasota News Leader January 18, 2013 Page 19 sota County would have to be in agreement as well." But never mind that. This week, on Jan. 14, Cook unapologetically backtracked on her own motion, insisting that "the city just voted to sell their stake" in the property. "It was the whole 81 acres," Yates argued back. "What I heard today was different." "There's only one person that didn't understand what the motion was," Cook said, citing A 1960 sign for Warm Mineral Springs is embedded in the ground. Photo courtesy of North Port Area Chamber of Commerce press ebyabe/Wikipedia releases and newspaper clippings as proof. Cook did not respond to Sarasota News Lead- In a letter to the North Port commission sent earlier this month, the County Commission er voice mails requesting comment. made it clear that it has no intention of selling "The words in that motion did not say what its half of the springs. That stance is backed you just said," replied Yates, referring to the by both the Parks Advisory and Recreation record of the Dec. 18 meeting. Yates said she Council and the North Port Area Chamber of personally did not want to cut off cooperation Commerce, which urged the city to retract its with the county and that she only voted to vote to sell. sell the springs with the understanding that On Monday, Yates moved to have the commiscounty commissioners would have to agree sion "reconsider" its December vote, but that to the plan. She called her vote a "position" failed when the motion deadlocked at 2-2. statement. Commissioner Tom Jones — who, along with In a Jan. 3 email to the county commission, Vice Mayor Jim Blucher, has been strongly opYates tried to clarify her position: posed to selling the springs from the start — "It has also been communicated that the City was hospitalized last week and missed MonCommission had voted to sell their portion of day's meeting. His presence perhaps could Warm Mineral Springs. There was no motion have forced the commission to re-evaluate its to sell the City's 50% ownership of the proper- December vote. ty. During discussion individual comment was For now, at least, the issue appears settled: made that selling just the City's portion would North Port intends to sell its 50-percent share be acceptable, however before the vote, the of the springs, and the city will offer it first motion maker was asked and verified that the to the county. If the county is not interested, motion was specific to mean the desire to sell the city's portion will be sold to the highest bidder. % the whole entire property."