The mermaids, those endearing icons of Weeki Wachee Springs, are treading water in an attempt to keep one of old Florida's best-known tourist attractions afloat.
Once a must-stop for motorists on their way to sandy beaches south of Hernando County, the 57-year-old vestige of roadside kitsch is struggling to find a way to make much-needed improvements at the facility at a time when visitors and revenue are declining.
To hear some people describe it, the time has come for the aquatic cuties to sink or swim.
On Tuesday the Southwest Florida Water Management District, which owns the first-magnitude spring and the land around it and leases it to the teeny city of Weeki Wachee, will have an opportunity to throw the park a lifeline. And that is exactly what should happen - as long as the public and the spring are protected.
Weeki Wachee recently assumed ownership of the business, and most of its nine residents are tied to the park in some way. The previous owner, Weeki Wachee Springs LLC, gave it to the city for the purpose of receiving an approximately $1-million federal tax write-off. The park has fallen into disrepair because, some allege, the private owners were more interested in taking profits than in reinvesting in the infrastructure.
As landlord, Swiftmud, as the water management district is commonly known, is seeking improvements that include shutting down the sewer treatment plant and tying into the county system, and bringing several buildings up to code. Swiftmud estimates that will cost about $1-million.
In response to those demands, Weeki Wachee presented a plan that was intended to reassure Swiftmud's governing board it is financially sound and able to make the repairs. However, a staff analysis released by the agency Friday found the plan insufficient and, in some areas, raised more questions than it answered.
Among the concerns are Weeki Wachee's cash flow from the attraction and the adjoining water park, the inherent conflict of interest in park employees also serving as elected representatives of the city, a lack of confidence in the marketing plan and the park's claim that only $275,000 in improvements are needed.
The analysis is compelling, and central to the criticism is Weeki Wachee's omission of a detailed timetable by which to meet Swiftmud's requirements.
And that is where Swiftmud's focus should be as it deliberates the matter Tuesday. A timetable for improvement is a fundamental request and if Weeki Wachee will provide one soon, the governing board should be willing to give the park's management team time to succeed. A year, or possibly two, would be reasonable and should be sufficient time to judge.
If Weeki Wachee cannot keep the schedule, however, Swiftmud should declare the city in violation of the lease, set to expire in 2031, and solicit proposals from others who may be interested in taking over the park. All proposals should include an educational component that would allow the spring to be a place to learn about the geology of the spring and its delicate ecosystem.
Also on Tuesday, Swiftmud should put the city on notice that all its attendance, financial and maintenance records will be readily available to the public. Weeki Wachee has been derelict recently in its responsibility to share that information, which is no longer proprietary because it is operated by a government entity. Such disregard for the state's public records laws must not be tolerated.
Swiftmud's overriding duty to taxpayers is to ensure the spring and the river it feeds are not damaged, and that the facility is safely accessible to the public. If either of those priorities are compromised, the agency should move swiftly and decidedly to correct the problems, even if it means seeking a court order to evict the tenant.
Weeki Wachee Springs has economical, historical and cultural value. It is a beloved venue for many people who remember, or dream about, how Florida was before it was populated and paved over. Swiftmud has been entrusted with that link to the past and, like it or not, a high-profile component of Hernando County's identity. It is a responsibility not to be taken lightly, and the city of Weeki Wachee must shoulder that obligation.
The fish-tailed denizens of the pristine spring are navigating muddy legal waters these days, and even though the water park is the main draw now, most people would like to see the mermaids survive. If the city will cooperate, Swiftmud should give them that chance.
