Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/170820
Sarasota News Leader September 13, 2013 Page 21 North Port City Manager Lewis told the county commissioners the city already has a Dun & Bradstreet account, so city staff could seek an assessment from that firm. Generally, he said, such reports "come back fairly quickly, but I hate to make an estimate." "You know, it's unusual," Patterson said, "but [Warm Mineral Springs] is such a big asset." When the North Port Commission approved the WMS Sarasota Management bid on Sept. 9, Blucher said, "I think our ultimate goal is to reopen the Springs. I believe we have a player that can do that and enhance [the resort]." Cook said she could not support his motion to award the bid to WMS Sarasota Management, because the request for bids called for documentation of successful prior experience in the management of "a publicly used natural spring or water attraction," and the firm had been organized too recently to demonstrate that. County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh addresses a county commissioner during a recent budget workshop. Photo by Rachel Hackney water for use in spa services provided on the Premises." "I know that part of the concept at one point" — though it was not approved by the County Commission, she noted — "was installing es"I think our ultimate goal is to protect the sentially separate little hot tub facilities." Springs and I don't see in these [bid] docuSuch structures had been constructed at other ments anywhere that the item I just read is springs, changing those resorts' character, she accommodated …" added. USE OF THE WATER His understanding, County Attorney Stephen Earlier in the County Commission discussion, DeMarsh replied, "was there is a pretty signifPatterson raised a concern about language in icant limitation" on how much water can be the proposed contract with WMS Sarasota removed. Management that she feared could allow it to Brown pointed out that that the agreement withdraw a large quantity of water from the language reflected use of water from Warm Springs. That clause says, "LICENSEE shall Mineral Springs in aesthetician services such not remove any water or minerals from the as facials and massages. Springs, nor allow any individual or group to remove any water or minerals from the "And that's not what I'm concerned about," Springs, except that LICENSEE may remove Patterson said.