The closure of Warm Mineral Springs carries a price, and it’s not just the loss of tourism dollars.
It’s also costing taxpayer. As co-owners of the world renowned site, the City of North Port and Sarasota County have to pay for security on the property. Since the shutdown in July, the property’s been chained off, a security guard’s been posted, the site is under surveillance, and a second fence has been put up to make sure people stay out. WINK reports all of that’s costing about $20,000/month. City and County leaders meeting on January 13th, and they’re expected to move forward with plans reopen the springs sometime next year.