Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/227385
Sarasota News Leader December 13, 2013 Page 65 Hines agreed with Patterson, though he also supported Barbetta's view. Noting that one person who spoke during the "Open to the Public" part of the meeting encouraged the boards to hire a mediator to help them work through their problems, Hines pointed out, "We did that. We had an agreement [after a mediated session in April]." "It was a professional mediator," Patterson noted. "It was a professional mediator," Hines concurred. "We did everything we could in good faith and then it was changed [by a vote of North Port commissioners]. I'm very, very concerned that this is a never-ending process." Although what Barbetta had said was true, Commissioner Christine Robinson listens to a Chairwoman Carolyn Mason responded, "and workshop discussion. File photo I'm disappointed that things are where they are … I want to give it another try with an end "That would accomplish allowing the pubin sight to the short-term agreement." lic to access the Springs," Yates pointed out. Otherwise, it could be eight or nine months THE NORTH PORT MEETING before the city and county boards completed The Dec. 10 letter from the North Port board the long-term solicitation process, she said. to the county commissioners said, "[W]hile "We have worked very hard to reopen the the long term [bid solicitation] process is Springs and all those people can't be wrong," developed, the City proposes to initiate a pro- Commissioner Tom Jones added, referring to cess for submittals for the operations of the a number of people who pleaded for access Springs utilizing a management agreement. It to the resort when they addressed the city is the Commission's belief this would allow board during the public comments portion of the Springs to be opened sooner." its session. During the North Port Commission meeting, Mayor Blucher and Commissioner Linda Yates expressed the hope the county would allow the city to pursue the hiring of a firm to manage the Springs' swimming area until a deal can be reached with a firm interested in a long-range proposal. "Some people are under the impression that [the swimming area] will be free" under the motion Yates put forth to pursue the shortterm management option, Cook pointed out. When Blucher said it would not, a chorus of moans arose from audience members.