Sarasota News Leader

11/08/2013

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Sarasota News Leader November 8, 2013 Page 36 all complete guessing," she tells The Sarasota He tells the News Leader he's not familiar with the details of the negotiations, which News Leader. have been going on for six months, accordOn Oct. 23, the board was scheduled to discuss ing to DeMarsh, but that the contract needs to an agreement related to the park, but the item be in place soon. "That agreement obviously was pulled from the agenda "at the request needs to be done," he adds. of Benderson," County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh told the commission. DeMarsh tells DeMarsh says the details were delayed because the News Leader there are two separate nego- of the need to pivot to finalize the details of tiations in progress: one between the state the 2017 World Rowing Championships — which Benderson Park will host. He thinks and the SunCoast Aquatics Nature Center his office will have an agreement ready for Associates, chaired by Paul Blackketter, the County Commission in about six weeks, the executive director for planning with and he notes that whatever happens with the Benderson Development, and one between negotiations between SunCoast Aquatics and the county and SunCoast Aquatics over how the state won't significantly impact the agreeto manage and operate the park. (Blackketter ment to manage the park. did not respond to a News Leader voicemail.) Brown says it doesn't matter which agreeCounty Commissioner Joe Barbetta seemed ment is finalized first but that getting them impatient Oct. 23 at the lack of a final agree- done is a priority. "We'll continue to work ment between the county and SunCoast cooperatively to allow for the use of the facilAquatics. "We need an agreement," he said. ity," she says, "but we certainly want to get an agreement." % "There's too much at stake here." The park has been transformed over the past couple of years, thanks to county and state funding. Photo by Norman Schimmel

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