City selects doctor to operate Springs; bid must now be approved by county By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH North Port Community News Editor NORTH PORT — North Port city commissioners Monday voted 3-1 Monday to approve Dr. Grigory Pogrebinsky’s bid to operate Warm Mineral Springs Day Spa for one year. The decision is not final. The recommendation must now go before Sarasota County commissioners for their approval, which could happen during their meetings Tuesday or Wednesday. City Commissioner Cheryl Cook was the lone vote against the doctor’s bid, which includes giving the city and county, who jointly own the 81-acre spa, 24 percent of the Springs’ profits each month. Cook said neither of the two bid came from qualified applicants who had experience running mineral springs. “I can’t support the motion,” Cook said. “I have grave concerns.” Cook said she disagreed with Commissioner Jim Blucher’s statement that the goal is to reopen the facility, which has been closed to the public since June 30. “I disagree ... the ultimate goal is not to open the Springs, the ultimate goal is to protect the Springs,” she said, adding she thought the city should seek new bids for those who have true experience operating a unique springs. Commissioner Rhonda DiFranco said after the half-hour meeting, she wanted to see progress with the Springs. “Let’s move forward,” she said. “I think we will discuss having a workshop about the long-term operator at this afternoon’s meeting so we can move the process along. This was about getting the Springs reopened. There are people who depend on the Springs for their help. They want it open. We want it protected, and as Commissioner Blucher said, it’s the city and county’s responsibility as the owners to make sure that happens.” Mayor Linda Yates, who rarely misses a meeting, was absent due to her husband having surgery Monday. Pogrebinsky, 67, owns 16 acres of land bordering the Springs and its 87-degree, mineral-rich lake. He said he wants to talk to former employees — about 44 lost their jobs at the spa and 16 from onsite eatery Café Evergreen when the Springs was shuttered — about coming back to the tourist attraction. The Ukrainian-born doctor said he’s willing to operate the Springs and make no profit because he has his sights set on its long-term operation. “I care about protecting the Springs,” he said. “Without a healthy Springs, I cannot build my health-care facilities around the Springs. I have brought in an experienced hotel management team to operate the hospitality side of the Springs so I can focus on health and wellness.” Pogrebinsky said he will make the same presentation he did before city commissioners to the county before they consider who will get the short-term bid. The doctor’s only competitor for the spa is Port Charlotte businessman Michael M. Meagher, who offered the two governments 15.1 percent of monthly gross proceeds from the Springs. Meagher, the owner of Cambridgeshire Investment LLC, has a degree in hospitality and restaurant management. The city and county purchased the Springs for $5.5 million in December 2010. The boards had 30 months to decide who would operate the spa once its contract with former manager Cypress Lending ran out on June 30. But the two governments couldn’t come to an agreement in time and the spa, popular with international bathers who swear by its healing properties, was closed for the first time in nearly 50 years.
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 16:08:08 +0000
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