Questions remain for Warm Mineral Springs

The proposal for a public-private partnership to encourage economic development around the Warm Mineral Springs seemed possible after an all day mediation session between Sarasota County and North Port city commissioners April 17. An email the following day threw the plan into uncertainty.

The municipalities jointly purchased the Springs for $5.5 million in December of 2010. But, neither side can agree on what to do with the 81-acre site. And neither side will sell their share of the environmental oddity.

Sarasota County commissioners convinced three North Port commissioners to support an invitation to negotiate (ITN) a partnership with a private firm to develop parts of the property April 17. But, North Port Commissioner Rhonda DiFranco in a 5:33 a.m. email the following day reversed her decision, and wrote that no further resources would be used for an ITN.