Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/109601
Sarasota News Leader February 15, 2013 Page 27 down to,��� DiFranco summarized. ���Let���s get moving on other city business.��� But what is the city���s alternative when it comes to selling the springs? That is where things get sticky. While Blucher had harsh words for the county���s proposal, he was blunt about the likelihood of finding another suitable buyer. ���I don���t think [the county���s] going to make another counter-offer,��� he said, ���and the private sector is not going to be interested in working with the county.��� In the meantime, the city still co-owns the land. ���We���re going to be back addressing this again shortly,��� he said. ���What are we going to do with the springs?��� Responding to the North Port decision during their Tuesday meeting, county commissioners were frustrated. Commissioner Charles Hines said a proper response from the city would have included a counter-offer. ���I think we���ve not been treated with huge respect on this,��� said Commissioner Nora Patterson, adding that she would like to figure out a short-term agreement for springs management that would kick in when the current management contract runs out June 30. But, of course, any agreement would require approval from the North Port board. A sign welcomes visitors to Warm Mineral Springs. Photo by Ebyabe via Wikipedia Commons a sales process and force the two owners to split the proceeds. Of course, there is no guarantee the city would earn back what it paid for the springs, or even as much as the county is offering today. Robinson also explained that state law requires that two government bodies attempt to resolve their differences at a ���mandatory meeting��� before a lawsuit can be filed. ���It���s not the end of the world to put you in the same room,��� he said. The boards could even hire a mediator. ���The idea being that the meeting is to try to work out an agreement prior to fisticuffs.��� Commissioner DiFranco tells the News Leader she is confident the city and county can ���avoid any legal confrontation if we would check our egos at the door.��� On Monday, the city did move to explore the possibility of selling its portion to a state or The county eventually approved a motion to federal agency, an idea DiFranco calls ���excelhave staff come back to the board with a sum- lent.��� mary of all its legal options. ���Everyone needs to be patient and diligent North Port City Attorney Robert Robinson while we complete our research,��� she writes told his commission Monday that a move to in an email. ���We hope to bring a plan or agreesell the city���s share of the land to a private ment to the county in the near future. It maybe [sic] a possibility to sever our partnership entity would likely lead to a lawsuit. to protect and preserve the springs.��� He suggested two possible paths: One, meet with the county and come to an amicable long- Additional reporting contributed by Saraterm arrangement; or two, file a partition law- sota News Leader Editor Rachel Brown suit, which would put the property through Hackney. %