Weeki Wachee: State Or County Park?

WEEKI WACHEE - Weeki Wachee Springs is one step closer to becoming a state park, but attraction officials say they want to first rule out the possibility of being included in the Hernando County park system.

County officials said Tuesday they are willing to consider that but are hesitant to jump into the middle of the ongoing, court-ordered mediation between the mermaid attraction and its landlord, the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Robyn Anderson, the general manager of Weeki Wachee Springs, said Swiftmud should officially invite the county to the bargaining table. The attraction is a "Hernando County jewel," she said, so the county should have the opportunity to bring the landmark into the county park system.

"I think Swiftmud really owes it to the citizens of Hernando County to afford the county this opportunity," Anderson said.

"We're still in mediation and we're still hopeful for a resolution but, by law, we can't discuss the details," Swiftmud spokeswoman Robyn Hanke said Tuesday.

The water management district, known as Swiftmud, owns the 27 acres on which the 60-year-old attraction sits. The two sides are trying to settle a longstanding dispute over the terms of the attraction's lease.

Last Friday, Weeki Wachee Springs LLC signed a letter of intent to negotiate a deal with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that would make the landmark part of the state park system.

The letter outlines specifics about how the attraction would transfer to the state park system as a "donation" by Oct. 31, 2008. Several key employees - and the mermaid shows - would remain, but the waterslides at in the Buccaneer Bay portion of the park would have to go, according to the letter.

The letter, by DEP deputy counsel Harold Vielhauer, called the terms "our final and best offer."

But Anderson, who signed the letter, said there are still details to be hashed out and that it's not too late for county to get involved.

"If there is one issue we don't agree on, the deal could be over," Anderson said.

"This is just the first step in the process," said DEP spokeswoman Sarah Williams. "If (Weeki Wachee officials) decide they're not happy with it anymore, we can talk about it more, and if they chose to go in different direction, I think they still can."

Anderson called it a potentially "ideal situation" for the attraction and the residents here who consider it their own. The park brings in a reported $2 million in gross revenue.

If the attraction came under state purview, the net revenue would go to the state's general park revenue fund, Anderson said. That's money that should stay in the county she said.

During the time allotted for citizen input at the commission meeting Tuesday, Brooksville business owner and civic activist Anna Liisa Covell implored county officials to be aggressive before the deal between the attraction and the state is done.

Covell acknowledged that the idea to have the county take over Weeki Wachee Springs had been floated several years ago, but was dismissed because the park had fallen into severe disrepair under the previous owners.

The park's infrastructure and its bottom line are in much better shape now, Covell said.

"At least make the first step and ask if this might be a viable option," she said.

Covell's comments prompted county officials and commissioners to reveal discussions that have been going on quietly for at least a week.

Attraction officials had already contacted interim county administrator Larry Jennings and each of the county commissioners individually last week to gauge interest in making the attraction a county park.

Meanwhile, Swiftmud and Weeki Wachee officials also met twice for mediation; DEP officials also were on hand, and the parties discussed the terms for a state takeover.

Joe Mason, a Brooksville attorney representing Weeki Wachee Springs, called county attorney Garth Coller on Monday to find out if the county "was interested or not interested," Coller said.

Coller said he in turn told Swiftmud general counsel Bill Bilenky that Hernando County does have an interest in being considered a possible party to the talks "once the legal issues are resolved."

If it came to that, there still would be a host of issues for the county to consider, Jennings said.

Among the biggest is the financial impact, he said: it's unclear how much the park nets each year. There also is the question of liability, he said.

County commissioners agreed Tuesday that the county shouldn't interfere in the mediation but should take a proactive approach to participating in the talks and explore the idea.

"I think we could run a park as well as the state could run a park," Commissioner Chris Kingsley said.