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Sarasota News Leader November 29, 2013 Page 71 COUNTY TO PROCEED WITH SPORTS COMPLEX SITE PURCHASE Having cleared up the potential for problems in ridding itself of unwanted fences on adjacent parcels, the Sarasota County Commission voted unanimously on Nov. 26 to proceed with a deal to purchase 115 acres of Newtown land for a North County Sports Complex. from Aqua Holdings the previous day saying it had won agreement of the property owners to take down the fences. The Nov. 25 Aqua letter says, "These encroachments will be removed prior to the asset pre-closing scheduled for December 11, 2013 either by Aqua or by the property owner." The vote authorized Chairwoman Carolyn Mason to execute a letter notifying Aqua Holdings Inc. of the board's decision to exercise its option to purchase the site. "See how easy it was," Commissioner Joe Barbetta pointed out, drawing laughter from his fellow commissioners. "All we had to do was tell them what we wanted before the During their Nov. 19 regular meeting, com- closing." missioners acknowledged concerns that the The 115-acre parcel is on the northwest quadcounty could be entangling itself in a legal rant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and quagmire if the fence issue were not resolved Tuttle Avenue. The purchase price and closing before it moved ahead with the purchase. costs total $2,236,500, according to a memo provided to the board. The actual expense for During their special meeting on Nov. 26, Interim County Administrator Tom Harmer the parcel is $2 million. notified them that he had received a letter Rachel Brown Hackney Fences encroaching on the site of the planned new North County Sports Complex will be removed before the county closes on the property. Photo courtesy Sarasota County