Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/194514
Sarasota News Leader October 18, 2013 Page 31 his report when the County Commission meets on Oct. 22 in Sarasota. On Oct. 14, Lewis initiated about an hour of discussion — including public comments from three speakers — because, as he put it, "At some point in the process we had to … come to the conclusion of whether [WMS Sarasota Management's principals] were going to sign the contract or not." During a unanimous vote on Sept. 10, the County Commission concurred with a 3-1 decision of the North Port board a day earlier to award a 12-month contract to WMS Sarasota Management to operate Warm Mineral Springs while the boards tried to iron Before Warm Mineral Springs closed at the end of June, visitors were greeted by this welcome sign. Photo by Ebyabe via Wikimedia Commons out differences on the long-term future of the resort. Cook cast the "No" vote on her board. Conflicting views of the resort's future began to brew after Cook and Rhonda DiFranco were elected to the North Port Commission in November 2012. They sided with Yates in wanting to keep the springs in a natural state, while the previous North Port Commission had voted with the County Commission in July 2012 to seek an Invitation to Negotiate for potential development proposals for the property. The two boards bought Warm Mineral Springs for $5.5 million in December 2010. Jonathan Lewis is the North Port city manager. Photo courtesy City of North Port The disagreement ultimately led to a facilitated meeting of the commissions in April, under the guidelines of a state statute regarding conflict resolution. In June, the boards finally approved a new interlocal agreement that spelled out the process for hiring a shortterm manager while efforts continued to resolve the long-range vision.