PAY IT FORWARD NOW you CAN do something to Help Save Warm Mineral Springs and it won’t even be time consuming or difficult to do… please read below… also PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL CONCERNED CITIZENS AND SOCIAL MEDIA So many of you have written or spoken to me asking, “How can I help save Warm Mineral Springs. Now there is a way, and it is simple and easy, but it must accomplished in the next week or so. Last Tuesday (June 24th) the City of North Port Commission met with the Sarasota County Commission. The Sarasota County Commission voted 5-0 to put a Big Developer (JEBCO) on the WMS property who proposed a 35 million dollar development inclusive of a hotel, medical facilities, museum, Conference Center and Private Residential Units. People were shocked and couldn’t believe what they were hearing. Shocked? Well listen to this…Sarasota County Commission (Joe Barbetta, Charles Hines, Carolyn Mason, Nora Patterson, and Christine Robinson) wanted to allow the Developer to use the property at Warm Mineral Springs as collateral for their Developers project. This means, if this outrageous land grab project failed, the taxpayers would be on the hook for the tab, and the public ownership and investment in this unique property could be lost forever! When citizens, residents and visitors hear about this they can hardly believe what they are hearing. How could the plan have changed from purchase as Parkland to preserve and protect and keep open to the community---to a multi-million dollar land grab for the Developer friends of the Sarasota County Commission? …oh, and keep in mind it is the county who has manipulated the closures and kept it closed to the public. You had to be there over the past few years to watch this outrageous bait and switch process because you certainly won’t see the terms of this deal in the paper. The papers blame North Port. Why? Because the Sarasota County power brokers own the media. The North Port City Commission stopped this rip-off. I am extremely proud of the four commissioners who voted their conscience, to preserve and protect Warm Mineral Springs as a natural resource for future generations. They foiled the big development plan by supporting National and State Parks Concessions, Inc. a bidder who laid out a plan for modest development (restoration or replacement of current buildings). NSPC show genuine concern for the ecology and have experience in managing sensitive environmental properties. This bidder proposed a wise economically and ecologically sustainable plan for operation and restoration. NSPC are not Developers. As the current Operators, they let the Commissions know that this property was already economically self-sustaining. They encouraged protection of waters and surrounding property as a natural setting. WMS has been an attractor for tourism for years because of its healing waters and relaxing natural environment. Warm Mineral Springs does not need development on the property to do this job; however, the existing buildings do need restoration or replacement. Yes, this property needs to be restored, preserved and protected…NOT PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT ON PUBLIC PROPERTY. By the way, water and sewer can be put in without much expense. Did you know that the hookup is about a block away? The North Port City Commission showed real courage and leadership, and this is doubly impressive at a time when leadership and integrity is scarce in government. I have always believed in giving credit where credit is due. The majority North Port City Commission They did their job! Now let’s do ours. The North Port City Commission does want to see responsible economic development in the city of North Port. But there is plenty of land available for private developers to purchase themselves, but not on taxpayer owned and purchased property! Warm Mineral Springs is North Port’s only real attraction---Development on this property was never the stated intention, it was never in the terms of purchase, and the public was asked after the purchase to voice their views. The great majority wanted a park and they thought that’s what they were getting. I can prove this to anyone who has conveniently forgotten by showing you where to view the evidence. The public was told it was purchased as Parkland, to preserve, protect and keep open to the community. North Port stood up and said, “This is the people’s property…not the Developers” Now What Can You Do to Support Our North Port Commission? Write to them---Let them hear from you….consider…. 1. Tell them how enthused you are to see real leadership. Thank them for their votes to save Warm Mineral Springs from JEBCO and big development. 2. Remind them that you want to see the property at Warm Mineral Springs kept as Parkland, and that you want the environment and ecology protected. This is what the public was told on July 25, 2011 at a Presentation given by John McCarthy, then General Manager of Sarasota County Parks and Recreation. (You can look this up on the North Port City website. Look under Agenda/Meetings, go to the year 2011, and bring up July 25th Regular Commission Meeting. Mr. McCarthy’s presentation on Warm Mineral Springs is in the Presentation section. You can view it on the video. 3. Let them know that if they get the chance to purchase this property from Sarasota County that you wholeheartedly approve of their purchase. There is still a real and present danger that this can go into the hands of Big Developers. Above all, encourage them to purchase Warm Mineral Springs if you have any hope for the survival of this sacred healing spring. Please understand it is difficult to stand for the truth against Sarasota County political tricks, land grabbing and media bullying; it takes courage, wisdom and foresight. Please write them and let them know you appreciate their LEADERSHIP at the email address below…. This is important because there is a small but vocal group here in North Port most of whose members will personally profit from politically connected public-private development Warm Mineral Springs. Many of them have connections with the Sarasota County players. These particular people do not use the spring, do not know or understand the waters, do not live near the spring and have little reverence for nature. They do however have fondness for the green in their wallets, and profits they would realize from big developer takeover---politicians and developers…need I say more? Please write to the North Port City Commissioners at your earliest convenience at the email address below: commissioners@cityofnorthport Juliette Jones, A Friend of Warm Mineral Springs
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 01:51:41 +0000
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