Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/198837
Sarasota News Leader October 25, 2013 Page 45 PREVENTING A 'PERMANENT PARK' On Oct. 22, county commissioners voiced frustrations about the continued closure of Warm Mineral Springs, just as their City of North Port counterparts had during their Oct. 14 meeting. However, a motion by Commissioner Nora Patterson that called for the county administrator and city manager to work together quickly to put together a plan to open the swimming area for just six months failed on a 2-3 vote. Only Vice Chairman Charles Hines supported Patterson on that motion. It included a directive that the administrator and manager and their staffs put together an ITN solicitation process "as rapidly as possible" for the longterm operation of the resort, with a call for the two boards to be able to choose the winning proposal from a short list comprised from responding firms. Assistant North Port City Manager Danny Schult/Photo courtesy of City of North Port Hines said he did not want to continue to deny the public access to the resort for an When Patterson replied that they would report unknown period of time. "It's not right," he to either the county administrator or the city added. "It's not helping anybody …" manager, Robinson told her, "Therefore, they are an employee of the city or the county." Patterson suggested the city and/or the county could hire lifeguards and open just the swim- Patterson responded that she wanted to see ming area — as North Port Mayor Linda Yates the Springs open during season. proposed last week. "I want that in the worst way," Robinson said. "I don't believe that once we put public "However, I do not believe it should be operemployees there, we will ever get them out ated permanently as a public park." If only the again," County Commissioner Robinson said. swimming area opened for a period of time, Robinson pointed out, "There will be no motiPatterson protested that those employees vation for the North Port Commission to ever would be working under contract — that they do anything differently." would not be regular city or county employees, but Robinson asked, "Who would they "I also don't want to operate it as a public park," Patterson told Robinson. report to?"