COMMISSIONERS VOTE TO CONTINUE PURSING SPRINGS

NORTH PORT CITY COMMISSIONERS VOTED 4-1 FRIDAY TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE PURCHASE OF WARM MINERAL SPRINGS WITH SARASOTA COUNTY.  AN EMERGENCY MEETING WAS CALLED BY NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONER LINDA YATES, WHO FEELS THE CITY NEEDS TO STAY OUT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHEN IT COMES TO PURCHASES SUCH AS THIS.  THE MEETING LASTED OVER AN HOUR AND A HALF, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS WHO SPOKE ON THE ISSUE WERE FOR THE PURCHASE, BUT SOME EXPRESSED THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE BEING BULLDOZED INTO THE DECISION, BUT COMMISSIONER JIM BLUCHER SAID “SOMETIMES A DOOR OPENS BUT IT DOESN’T STAY OPEN FOR VERY LONG.  YOU HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT THE CITY IS DOING.”  THE COUNTY AND CITY AGREED ON A PRICE OF $5.5 MILLION DOLLARS TO PURCHASE THE SPRINGS LAST WEEK, AND COMMISSIONERS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A FULL CONTRACT TO VOTE ON BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.