Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/135276
Sarasota News Leader June 7, 2013 Page 20 He was referring to North Port Mayor Linda Blucher added, "The county has asked us a Yates and her fellow board members Cheryl number of times … to try to give them someCook and Rhonda DiFranco. thing that they could work with as far as the "I don't think they're fairly representing their … future of the springs and we never have." community or the county," Barbetta added. During the North Port board's May 28 meet- Cook said she wanted to preserve the property and "preserve the over 40 jobs and the ing, Yates reiterated the women's position: 122,000 ticket-holders "Three of us want who are currently enpreservation and proThree of us want preservation and joying the springs …" tection, ensuring that the public gets to use protection, ensuring that the public gets [the springs] for their to use [the springs] for their place, not The county commisplace, not [have] a pri- [have] a private developer just come in sioners have been invate developer just and use this as a resort. tent on an ITN procome in and use this cess, Cook added, "by Linda Yates as a resort." Mayor which they can find City of North Port However, Vice Mayor somebody to build on James Bucher pointed the property. … There out that since Cook and DiFranco were elected in November 2012, doesn't seem to be any neutral territory." "this commission has not been able to decide the usage [of the springs]. We have not been "Development is not a friend of preservation, able to come up with a consensus …" period," DiFranco said. An inlaid sign welcomes visitors to Warm Mineral Springs. Photo by Ebaybe via Wikimedia Commons