Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/124273
Sarasota News Leader April 26, 2013 Page 24 "I think her intent is changeable," Commis- Finally, Barbetta told his fellow board memsioner Nora Patterson said. bers, "I'll support the [legal] process. That's the only thing I'll support." "The [North Port] Commission changed once by tenor of election and the commission can Still, he said of the facilitated meeting, "We'd change again by tenor of elections," Patterson have to be in a cave not to have heard what pointed out. the [North Port] commissioners said there. They think [Warm Mineral Springs] is a public "I believe the worst thing that could happen to park, a $51⁄2 million public park." the Springs is that it close," Patterson continued. The only alternative to pursuing a short- POSSIBLE NEXT STEPS term lease, she added, is to proceed with a plan to have North Port city staff or county If the two boards cannot agree on the interlostaff keep the resort open with bare ameni- cal agreement, DeMarsh explained, typically ties, "and I really don't like that. To me that's the county attorney and county administrator would be sent as delegates of the County an absolute last gasp." Commission to work with their city counterCommissioner Robinson concurred with Pat- parts and a mediator to determine whether terson. Once a local government began man- any resolution could be reached. aging the facility, she added, she feared the The parties could simply decide to terminate situation would become permanent. the legal process, he noted. On the other hand, Reid noted that if no short-term lease were he said, "Either party would be lawfully able signed, the county would be obligated to to sue ... But you don't have to do anything." maintain security at Warm Mineral Springs, to prevent people from just wandering in to Moreover, DeMarsh said, "The County Commission would be under no time pressure to swim. bring a lawsuit." With the current lease set to expire on June 30, DeMarsh said he and his staff would pro- "From the day we voted to purchase [Warm ceed with drafting a short-term lease agree- Mineral Springs jointly with the City of North ment that could be advertised. That would be Port], this commission has operated in good provided to the North Port Commission con- faith," Chairwoman Carolyn Mason said. "And currently with the interlocal agreement. The it's really sad that we've come to where we next regular North Port Commission meeting are. But we're still trying to move forward in good faith." % is set for May 13, he added. The Sarasota News Leader No-Nonsense Reporting